"O Me! O Life!" by Walt Whitman

Sandy (United States of America)
In this poem, first published in 1867, Walt Whitman questions and ultimately answers what gives life its purpose.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. recur
    happen or occur again
    Oh 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?)
  2. faithless
    having the character of a traitor; disloyal
    Oh 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?)
  3. foolish
    lacking good sense or judgment
    Oh 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?)
  4. reproach
    express criticism towards
    Oh 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?)
  5. crave
    have an appetite or great desire for
    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?
  6. struggle
    strenuous effort
    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?
  7. plod
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    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?
  8. sordid
    foul and run-down and repulsive
    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?
  9. useless
    having no beneficial utility
    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?
  10. intertwine
    spin, wind, or twist together
    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?
  11. exist
    have a presence
    That you are here—that life exists and identity,
    That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
  12. identity
    the characteristics by which a thing or person is known
    That you are here—that life exists and identity,
    That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
  13. powerful
    having great force or effect
    That you are here—that life exists and identity,
    That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
  14. contribute
    give, provide, or supply something
    That you are here—that life exists and identity,
    That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
  15. verse
    a piece of poetry
    That you are here—that life exists and identity,
    That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.
Created on Tue Apr 07 18:10:13 EDT 2026 (updated Tue Apr 28 14:35:58 EDT 2026)

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