Walt Whitman Poet

Gender: Male
Citizenship: United States
Born: May 31, 1819
Died: Mar 26, 1892

Walter "Walt" Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was very controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality.

Born in Huntington on Long Island, Whitman worked as a journalist, a teacher, a government clerk, and—in addition to publishing his poetry—was a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War. Early in his career, he also produced a temperance novel, Franklin Evans. Whitman's major work, Leaves of Grass, was first published in 1855 with his own money. The work was an attempt at reaching out to the common person with an American epic. He continued expanding and revising it until his death in 1892. After a stroke towards the end of his life, he moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his health further declined. When he died at age 72, his funeral became a public spectacle.

Whitman's sexuality is often discussed alongside his poetry.

The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity. art

The real war will never get in the books. war

I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends. being funny

The beauty of independence, departure, actions that rely on themselves. beauty

Nothing can happen more beautiful than death. death

And I will show that nothing can happen more beautiful than death. death

Give me odorous at sunrise a garden of beautiful flowers where I can walk undisturbed. nature

I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars. nature

And whoever walks a furlong without sympathy walks to his own funeral drest in his shroud. sympathy

Judging from the main portions of the history of the world, so far, justice is always in jeopardy. history

The future is no more uncertain than the present. the future

I may be as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best. best, God & being good

To have great poets, there must be great audiences. greatness & poetry

We convince by our presence. inspirational

Freedom - to walk free and own no superior. freedom

Here or henceforward it is all the same to me, I accept Time absolutely. time

Henceforth I ask not good fortune. I myself am good fortune. being good

I am as bad as the worst, but, thank God, I am as good as the best. best, God & being good

I cannot be awake for nothing looks to me as it did before, Or else I am awake for the first time, and all before has been a mean sleep. time

I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game. greatness & sports

And your very flesh shall be a great poem. greatness

Let your soul stand cool and composed before a million universes. being cool

Whatever satisfies the soul is truth. truth

He most honors my style who learns under it to destroy the teacher. teacher

Produce great men, the rest follows. greatness & men

I have learned that to be with those I like is enough. friendship

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books. nature

Now I see the secret of making the best person: it is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. best

A great city is that which has the greatest men and women. greatness, men & women

The great city is that which has the greatest man or woman: if it be a few ragged huts, it is still the greatest city in the whole world. greatness

Walt Whitman Poet

Mother's Day May 12, 2025