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Walt Whitman, Robert Herrick: tremendously famous poets to this day who have both captured the idea of living each day to the fullest in “O Me! O Life!” and “To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time,” respectively. Despite these poems being written an approximate two hundred years apart from each other, they do carry the alike theme of “carpe diem,” conveyed in two unique ways. These poems differ when the poets show their style through the authors’ focus, meaning, tone, and poem structure.
These two poems emphasize different aspects of the theme and show how the authors’ focuses differ. In Whitman’s “O Me! O Life!,” the opening refers to life struggles and dire times that one may experience. His poem then proceeds to provide an “answer” for all this, saying to make the most of things and that we all are individuals who have something to add to this world: “Answer. / That you are here--that life exists, and identity; / That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.” (Lines 8-10) The change in tone in this area puts emphasis on the two concluding lines which hold the author’s purpose for writing the piece. On the other hand, Herrick simply encourages the reader from begin to end to grab the chance and to experience all of life while you can. His thoughts are conveyed in a sexual manner with losing one’s virginity representing fully experiencing life. He emphasizes this by dwelling on the theme from start to finish. Nonetheless, these poets keep the same theme-oriented focus.

The meaning of the two poems on the surface seem to be very similar, both creating a seize the day scheme. The authors have slightly skewed visions on this theme and how it should be achieved. In Herrick’s verses it is more simply put across with these words “For having lost but once your prime / You may for ever tarry.” (Lines 15-16) that one should live life before it’s to late, carrying a “youth is wasted on the young” tone. Instead of viewing this...