O Me! O Life!…of the question of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless – Of cities filled with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more faithless then I and who more foolish?)
Of the eyes that vainly crave the light – of the objects mean – of the struggle ever renewed;
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.