"We don't read and write poetry because it's cute

We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race

And the human race is filled with passion

And medicine, law, business, engineering--these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life

But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for

To quote from Whitman

'O me! O life!... of the questions of these recurring

Of the endless trains of the faithless... of cities filled with the foolish

What good amid these, O me, O life?'

That you are here — that life exists, an identity

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

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

What will your verse be?"