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?

                                    Answer.

That you are here—that life exists and identity,

That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse." 

-Walt Whitman

Walt Whitman emphasizes the idea of identity in a world of comformity where society forces individuals to submit to the materialistic aspect of the world. This leaves individuals with no sense of free thinking where they cannot maintain the natural conscience they were born with. Instead, they become another agent in society allowing it to function. At the same time, society does not give one thought as to who's shoulders it is standing upon. It is important to be able to indentify the purpose which humans live for, what they need to contribute. Each individual has a verse, but that verse is clouded with societal pressures and resonsibilites where materialism becomes a priority and purpose, our true calling, is thrown aside.