03/10/2026
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Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was one of America’s most influential poets and a defining voice of nineteenth century literature. Born in West Hills, New York, he worked as a printer, journalist, teacher and editor before devoting himself to poetry. His revolutionary collection Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, broke away from traditional poetic forms and celebrated individuality, nature, the human body, love, freedom and the shared experience of ordinary people.
Whitman’s poetry was deeply personal yet universal. He believed that poetry could connect the individual soul with humanity and the natural world. During the American Civil War, he served as a volunteer nurse in military hospitals, an experience that profoundly influenced his later writing.
Often called the father of free verse in America, Whitman influenced generations of poets and writers around the world. His work continues to be remembered for its openness, compassion and celebration of human consciousness.
