O Me! O Life!

1. O Me! O Life! A poem by Walt Whitman with an interpretation by Veronica Bixby

2. Take a moment to read Whitman’s poem in it’s original form. After you have done so, you may continue on to witness my interpretation of the poem. I have incorporated images that came to mind during my reading as well as images that I feel embody the message I interpreted from this poem.

3. O Me! O Life! • 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 everrenew’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? • Answer. • That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.

4. O ME! O life!... • of the questions of • these recurring;

5. Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish;

6. Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

7. Of eyes that vainly crave the light— of the objects mean— of the struggle everrenew’d;

8. Of the poor results of all— of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;

9. Of the empty and useless years of the rest— with the rest me intertwined;

10. The question, O me! so sad, recurring— What good amid these, O me, O life?

11. Answer.That you are here—that life exists, and identity;

12. That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.