Walt Whitman

Born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, Long Island, Walt Whitman worked as a printer, teacher, and journalist before becoming one of America's most influential poets. His masterpiece, Leaves of Grass, first appeared in 1855 and grew across many editions during his lifetime, reflecting his lifelong habit of revising and expanding his work.

Whitman's poetry broke from many older rules of meter and form, favoring long, rolling lines and a direct, intimate voice. He wrote about democracy, city life, work, nature, the human body, and spiritual connection in ways that felt startlingly fresh to many readers. During the Civil War, he spent time caring for wounded soldiers in Washington, an experience that deeply shaped his writing, including Drum-Taps.

Later in life he settled in Camden, New Jersey, where he continued writing and became widely known as the "Good Gray Poet." He died there on March 26, 1892, but his work remains central to American literature and continues to speak to readers for its openness, energy, and belief in the dignity of ordinary people.