
| O ME! O life!…of the questions of these recurring; |
| Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill'd with the foolish; |
| Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) |
| Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean —of the struggle ever renew'd; |
| Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me; |
| Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined; |
| The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life? |
| That you are here—that life exists, and identity; |
| That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse. |