Walt Whiteman is one of the most famous and inspiring American poets. A poet who is widely considered as the American father of free verses. His most famous work is "Leaves of Grass", it was first published in the year 1855 by Walt Whiteman himself. This book is a collection of poems and verses by Walt Whiteman, he often celebrates love, friendship, democracy and nature through his work. His major concern was to introspect, explore and celebrate his own self and his personality and secondly he wanted to eulogize democracy and the American nation with its achievements and potential. His work continues to receive huge readership across generations and the fact that he mostly wrote his poems in first person makes it even more meaningful. By reading his astonishing work one learns to appreciate the things and find beauty within.
Walt Whitman was an American poet, born on 31 May 1819 in West Hills on Long Island. His parents were Walter Whitman and Louisa Van Velsor. His father owned a large farmland which was sold out earlier his birth, so his childhood was in sufferings. At the 11 years of age, he left formal schooling. He did several jobs, as a printer, journalist, teacher and a government clerk. In his poems he expressed over freedom, individuality, sensuality, divinity and nature. Leaves of Grass was Whitman's most well-known work, first published in 1855 by Whitman himself, initially it was composition of 12 poems. His few significant poems were-'Song of Myself' and 'I Sing the Body Electric' O Captain! My Captain!. He focused on humanism, rationalism and democratic thoughts. He emphasized on gains as well loss also. Due to his incredible writing he is popularly called as 'father of free verse' and 'bard of democracy'. He was died on 26 March 1892. His notable works-Franklin Evans, The Half Breed, Life and Adventures of Jack Engle, Drum- Taps, Leaves of Grass, etc.
