O Me! O Life!

Grammar Focus: “of + noun” phrases

এই কবিতার 1 থেকে 6 পর্যন্ত প্রতিটি লাইন of দিয়ে শুরু হয়েছে, যার ফলে কবিতাটি অনেকের কাছে কঠিন এবং দুর্বোধ্য হয়েছে। 

আমরা জানি “of + noun” আকারের Phrase গুলোর অর্থ "belongs to me." ধরনের হয়। অর্থাৎ, 

• The house of my father = The house belongs to my father

কিন্তু এই কবিতায়  “of + noun” আকারের শব্দগুচ্ছ "belongs to me" আকারের অর্থ প্রকাশ করেনি। এখানে “of + noun” আকারের শব্দগুচ্ছ দ্বারা বোঝাচ্ছে "Life is full of"

যেমন,

• of the questions এর অর্থ Life is full of the questions
• of the faithless এর অর্থ Life is full of the faithless
• of cities filled with the foolish এর অর্থ  Life is full of cities filled with the foolish ইত্যাদি।

এই “of” শব্দ আসলে “life” (জীবন)-এর সাথে সম্পর্কিত, অর্থাৎ জীবন কী কী জিনিসে পূর্ণ।

Four Parts of the Poem

Part 1: The Heading - O Me! O Life! 

The heading sets the emotional tone. It shows the poet's strong personal emotion - a cry from his heart.

The word “O” expresses deep feelings — like pain, surprise, or sadness.

When the poet says “O Me!”, he is crying out about his own pain, confusion, and disappointment. 

When he says “O Life!”, he is thinking about life — why life is so difficult and meaningless sometimes.

The exclamation marks (!) show his deep feeling — he is not calm, he is upset and thinking seriously.

Part 2: Lines 1 - 6 The Problems of Life

Part 2 (“The First Six Lines — The Problems of Life”) is the heart of the poem, because it shows all the troubles and bad sides of life that make the poet cry out “O me! O life!” 

Meaning of the First Six Lines:

L1: Oh me! Oh life! of the questions of these recurring, [ওহ আমি! ওহ জীবন! — এই প্রশ্নগুলো বারবার ফিরে ফিরে আসে (recurring),]

Paraphrase:

The poet begins with exclamations. He says that some questions of himself and life are troubling him again and again. He is always asking himself, " What is the meaning of life? Why do people suffer? and What is purpose of life?”

L3: Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?) [আমি সব সময় (forever) নিজেকেই দোষ দিই (reproaching), কারণ (for) আমার মতো বোকা (foolish) ও অবিশ্বাসী  (faithless) মানুষ আর কে আছে?)]

Paraphrase:

The poet says , " I always blame myself because I think that I am also foolish and faithless.

Hidden Meaning:

Whitman feels guilty and blames himself because he thinks that he is also as foolish as other people. He is as faithless as other people.

L4: Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d, [চোখগুলো বৃথা (vainly) (সুখ ও সত্যের) আলো (light) চায় (কিন্তু পায় না), তুচ্ছ (mean) জিনিসের (objects) জন্য (মানুষ নিরন্তর সংরাম করে আর ব্যার্থ হয়), এবং বারবার (ever) নতুন করে (renew’d = renewed) লড়াই (struggle) শুরু হয়,]

Paraphrase:

The poet sees that people always search for light (faith and hope), but they never find it.

They are surrounded by worthless and ordinary things.

People are so foolish that they look for light (faith and hope) in the ordinary things that surround them.

As a result, life feels full of meaningless things and never-ending struggles.

L6: Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, [অন্যদের মতোই আমিও জড়িয়ে আছি (intertwined) জীবনের ফাঁকা (empty) ও নিষ্ফল (useless) বছরগুলোর মধ্যে,]

Paraphrase:

He thinks of all the other people whose years seem empty and wasted — and realizes that his own life is connected with theirs, sharing the same emptiness and lack of meaning.

Hidden Meaning:

Whitman feels that he is not separate from the world’s hopelessness. He admits that he, too, is part of the same crowd, living through years that seem purposeless and unfulfilled.

Summary of the First Six Lines

In the first six lines, the poet describes the many problems of human life. He says that the same sad questions come back again and again in his mind. He sees the world full of faithless and foolish people who have lost hope and do not live meaningfully. The cities are crowded with such people who only care about money and fame. The poet also blames himself — he feels that he is no better than others and he is also foolish and hopeless. People’s eyes want light, truth, and happiness, but they cannot find them. Everyone runs after mean (low and unimportant) things and continues the endless struggle of life. All these make the poet feel sad, tired, and doubtful about the value of life.

বাংলা অনুবাদ (সহজভাবে):

প্রথম ছয়টি লাইনে কবি মানুষের জীবনের নানা দুঃখ ও সমস্যার কথা বলেছেন। তাঁর মনে একই রকম দুঃখের প্রশ্ন বারবার ফিরে আসে। তিনি দেখেন, পৃথিবী ভরা বিশ্বাসহীন ও বোকা মানুষে, যারা জীবনের আসল মানে ভুলে গেছে। শহরে সবাই শুধু অর্থ, পদ আর খ্যাতির পেছনে ছুটছে। কবি নিজেকেও দোষ দেন — তিনি ভাবেন, “আমি-ও তাদের মতোই বোকা আর হতাশ।” মানুষের চোখ আলো, জ্ঞান, ও সুখ চায়, কিন্তু তারা তা পায় না। তারা তুচ্ছ জিনিসের জন্য সারাজীবন লড়াই করে যায়। এসব দেখে কবির মনে হয়, জীবন যেন অর্থহীন ও কষ্টে ভরা।

L7: The Question

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

[এই দুঃখের (sad) প্রশ্ন (question) বারবার ফিরে আসে (recurring) —এইসবের মধ্যে (amid these) কী ভালো (what good) আছে, ওহ আমি, ওহ জীবন?]

এই অংশে কবি প্রশ্ন করেন: “What is the meaning of life if it is full of hopeless things?” [তাই তিনি প্রশ্ন করেন: “জীবন যদি আশাহীন তুচ্ছ জিনিসে পূর্ণ থাকে, তাহলে বেঁচে থাকার মানে কী?”]

After talking about all the problems, the poet asks a big question: [সকল সমস্যার কথা বলার পর এখন কবি একটা বড়ো প্রশ্ন করেন]

“What good amid these?” [What is good among all these troubles?] [এই সবের মধ্যে ভালো কী?]

He is asking himself — Why should I live? What meaning does my life have? [তিনি নিজেকে প্রশ্ন করছেন, “আমি কেনো বেঁচে থাকবো? জীবনের কী মানে আছে?]

 “What good…” means “What is good in life?” or “What meaning does life have?”

Paraphrase:

The poet sadly asks himself again and again, “What is the value or purpose of life in the middle of all this sadness, foolishness, and emptiness around me?”

Hidden Meaning:

Whitman feels deeply troubled and hopeless. Surrounded by human weakness and failure, he questions whether life has any real meaning or goodness left in it.

Part 4: The Answer 

L9: That you are here—that life exists and identity,

[(উত্তর হলো) তুমি যে এখানে আছো, তোমার জীবন আছে (life exists), তোমার নিজস্ব পরিচয় (identity) আছে,]

Paraphrase:

The answer comes: you are alive right now — life itself is real, and you have your own unique identity and existence in this world.

Hidden Meaning:

Whitman realizes that simply being alive and being oneself is already meaningful. Existence itself is a gift, and every individual has value and purpose just by being part of life.

L10: That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

[জীবনের মহান নাটক (powerful play) চলছে (goes on), আর তুমি তোমার একটি লাইন (a verse) যোগ করতে পারো (contribute) (কোনো ভালো কাজ করতে পারো]

Paraphrase:

Life is like a grand and powerful play that continues endlessly, and you have the chance to add your own lines — to make your own contribution to it.

Hidden Meaning:

Whitman teaches that life keeps moving forward with or without us, but every person has a role to play. Each individual can add meaning and beauty to the world through their actions, words, and unique presence.

Final Explanation:

Finally, the poet finds a positive and hopeful answer. [অবশেষে, কবি একটি ইতিবাচক এবং আশা জাগানীয়া উত্তর খুঁজে পান।]

He says, “It is good and hopeful that you are alive, and you have an identity. The world is like a powerful play, and you may do something valuable that will make you happy and make your life meaningful." [তিনি বলেন, "ভালো এবং আশার কথা হলো তুমি বেঁচে আছো এবং তোমার নিজস্ব একটা পরিচয় আছে। এই দুনিয়া একটা শক্তিশালী নাটকের মতো, এবং ভালো কাজের মাধ্যমে তুমি এই দুনিয়ায় অবদান রাখতে পারো।]

This ending also teaches us that life has purpose — our existence and actions can make the world better.

এখানে tone টা একদম hopeful এবং inspiring।

Line-by-Line Explanation

Important words:

  - Recurring = (বারবার ঘটছে) happening again and again  

  - Questions = doubts or thoughts about life (এখানে প্রশ্ন বলতে মূলত জীবনের সন্দেহ আর দুশ্চিন্তাকে বোঝানো হয়েছে)

Endless trains (অবিরাম সারি বা দল) — not real trains; it means continuous lines of people (মানুষের অন্তহীন সারি)।

Faithless (অবিশ্বাসী, যারা বিশ্বাস হারিয়েছে) — those who have no faith or belief

Foolish (বোকা, জ্ঞানহীন) — people are busy with doing silly or meaningless things

Reproaching [ভর্ৎসনা করা] = blaming or scolding oneself. Here the poet scolds himself thinking that he is also as foolish as the common people; he is as faithless as other people.

vainly (বৃথা) = without success  

crave (আকুলভাবে চাওয়া) = strongly want  

light (আলো) = symbol of truth or hope  

mean (তুচ্ছ) = unimportant or low in value  

struggle (জীবন সংগ্রাম) ever renew’d (= renewed, প্রতিদিন নতুন করে আসে, বেঁচে থাকার জন্য প্রতিদিন লড়াই করতে হচ্ছে, পরিশ্রম করতে হচ্ছে) = life’s fight starts again every day. 

“Eyes crave the light” (চোখ গুলো আকুল হয়ে আলো খোঁজে, eyes- চোখগুলো, crave - আকুল হয়ে খোঁজে, light - আলো, এখানে আলো বলতে knowledge, truth এবং happiness কে বোঝানো হয়েছে)

“Struggle (লড়াই, সংগ্রাম)  ever (প্রতি নিয়ত) renewed (নতুন রূপে আসে)” (বেঁচে থাকার জন্য প্রতিদিন নতুন নতুন লড়াই এর মোকাবিলা করতে হয়, প্রতিদিন সংগ্রাম করে বেঁচে থাকতে হয়) = life is full of continuous problems. As soon as one problem ends, another problem starts.

Plodding (ধীরে চলা ক্লান্ত মানুষ) — moving or working slowly and without energy (ধীর, ক্লান্তিকর)।

Sordid (নোংরা, লোভী, নৈতিকভাবে নিচু) — dirty in mind or action, greedy and morally low (নোংরা / অধঃপতিত)।

Poor results (খারাপ ফলাফল) = People struggle hard, but don't get what they want.

of the empty and useless years of the rest → most people’s lives seem wasted and meaningless (অধিকাংশ মানুষের জীবন ফাঁকা ও অর্থহীন মনে হয়)

with the rest me intertwined → I am also part of them; my life is mixed with theirs (আমিও তাদেরই অংশ; আমার জীবনও তাদের সঙ্গে জড়িত) 

Empty (শূন্য, অর্থহীন) — life without purpose or joy (অর্থহীন জীবনকাল)।

Useless years (নিরর্থক, কোনো কাজের নয়) — life without purpose or joy (অর্থহীন জীবনকাল)।

Intertwined (জড়িত, মিশে গেছে) — connected or mixed together (জড়িত)।

Empty and useless years (জীবনের যে সময়টা ফাঁকা এবং অকাজে অপচয় করা হয়েছে) = time that we waste by doing unimportant things. Time that we waste by doing things that we need for worldly happiness. 

Amid (মধ্যে, মাঝে) — among, in the middle of (মাঝে)

Recurring (বারবার ঘটে) = repeated again and again

Identity (পরিচয়, নিজস্বতা, “আমি কে” এই বোধ) — your sense of being yourself, your individuality (নিজস্বতা / আমি কে)।

That you are here → তুমি আছো, এটাই বড় কথা।

That life exists and identity → জীবন চলছে, আর প্রত্যেকের নিজের পরিচয় আছে।

identity (অস্তিত্ব বা পরিচয়) → who you are, your own self

exist → alive

That the powerful play goes on → জীবন এক মহা নাটকের মতো, যা চলছেই।

and you may contribute a verse → তুমি তোমার নিজের লাইন (নিজের অবদান) সেই নাটকে যোগ করতে পারো।

Contribute (অবদান রাখা, যোগ করা) → give or add something (অবদান রাখা)

Powerful play (শক্তিশালী নাটক) → life itself

verse (কবিতার লাইন) = a line of poetry; here it means your own action or role in life (তোমার নিজের অংশ / অবদান)

recurring বারবার ঘটছে happening again and again

faithless অবিশ্বাসী without faith or trust

reproaching ভর্ৎসনা করা blaming oneself

vainly বৃথা without success

crave আকুলভাবে চাওয়া desire deeply

mean তুচ্ছ unimportant, low

plodding ধীরে চলা slow and dull

sordid নোংরা dirty or unpleasant

intertwined জড়ানো connected together

contribute অবদান রাখা to give or add something

verse কবিতার লাইন a line of poetry

Questions and Answers

1. What does the phrases "O Me!" and "O Life!" mean in Whitman's poem "O me! O Life"?

In Walt Whitman's poem "O Me! O Life!", the phrases "O Me!" and "O Life!" show strong feelings.

"O Me!" is a strong exclamation. It shows that the poet is thinking deeply about himself and his personal life. He is looking for the meaning of life. He asks himself, "Who am I? Why am I here?" But he does not find the answer. So, he feels confused, sad, or unsure about his life. It makes the poet very emotional. For this, he exclaims "O Me!". 

"O Life!" means he is thinking about the world around him — all the problems, struggles, and questions in life.

Together, these phrases show that the poet is asking big questions: Why is life so hard? What is the meaning of living?

But in the end, the poem gives hope. Whitman says that even when life feels difficult, you are here, and you have a role to play. You can contribute a verse — which means you can add something special to the world.

2. What kind of questions does the poet ask himself?

He asks deep and sad questions about the meaning of life. He wonders why the world is full of foolish and hopeless people and why he himself feels so lost and unhappy.

3. What does the poet think about people in cities?

He thinks that the cities are full of foolish and faithless people. They live meaningless lives without hope or real purpose.

4. What does the poet mean by “eyes that vainly crave the light”?

It means people want truth, peace, and wisdom, but they fail to find it. They search for light in darkness, but their efforts are often useless.

5. How does the poet feel about himself?

He feels disappointed and guilty. He blames himself for being weak and foolish and for not living a better or more meaningful life.

6. What is the main question the poet asks?

The main question is: “What good is life in the middle of all this foolishness and sadness?” He wants to know what makes life worth living.

7. What answer does the poet give to his question?

He answers that life itself is good. The fact that we are alive and can think, feel, and act gives life meaning and beauty.

8. What does “the powerful play” refer to?

It refers to life itself. Life is like a great drama or play that goes on forever, and every person has a role to play in it.

9. What does “you may contribute a verse” mean?

It means you can add your own words, actions, or good deeds to the story of life. Each person’s contribution, however small, is important.

10. What is the message of the poem?

The poem teaches us that life may be full of problems, but it still has meaning. We are all part of life’s great play, and we should live with hope, purpose, and contribution.