Walt Whitman
American Poet
Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist. Born on Long Island, Whitman
also worked as a teacher, a government clerk, and—in addition to publishing his poetry—was a
volunteer nurse during the American Civil War.
Something to think about:
“How well does a centralized, federal government represent the diversity of its individual
citizens?
Preface to the 1855 Edition of Leaves of Grass
“Other states indicate themselves in their deputies…. but the genius of the United States is not
best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges or
churches or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors…. but always most in the common
people.”
“An individual is as superb as a nation when he has the qualities which make a superb nation.”
America
Centre of equal daughters, equal sons,
All, all alike endear’d, grown, ungrown, young or old,
Strong, ample, fair, enduring, capable, rich,
Perennial with the Earth, with Freedom, Law and Love,
A grand, sane, towering, seated Mother,
Chair’d in the adamant of Time.
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from November Boughs (1888)