Whitman's Contributed Verse

"That you are here-that life exists, and identity;/ That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse." So begins the famous Walt Whitman poem, "O Me! O Life!" featured in Whitman's famous book of poetry, Leaves of Grass.

Even if you're not familiar with Whitman's work, you may have heard this poem, and these particular lines quoted in the famous and Oscar nominated film, Dead Poet's Society.

"O Me! O Life!" is a poem that goes through all of those hardships of life that make us question why we are here, and what is the point of this society? Whitman laments, "the endless trains of the faithless-of cities fill'd with the foolish... (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)". It is a common complaint for many of us. What is wrong with the world around us? What is wrong with us?

But this is not just a poem that bemoans the state of the world. Instead, Whitman answers our questions with those last two lines. "That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse."

That is why we are here. To contribute a verse, to offer something to the world. To do our best because life exists no matter what state it's in, and we can either complain and feel sorry for ourselves, or give something to it.

Whitman did just that in his life. He gave the world his amazing poetry and became one of the most famous American poets of all time. Though mostly self-taught, Whitman was a teacher, journalist, and editor over the course of his life. His famous collection of poetry Leaves of Grass was a thirty-year endeavor, including numerous editions. (http://www.poemhunter.com/walt-whitman/biography/).

Whitman's style of poetry was new and innovative, and somewhat controversial. Still, his Civil War poetry remains some of his most famous, including his poem "O Captain, My Captain", a tribute to Abraham Lincoln.

Walt Whitman was not afraid of the powerful play, he contributed many an amazing verse.