Walt Whitman – 19th-century American poet, author of Leaves of Grass and Song of Myself, pioneer of free verse and the “bard of democracy.” His poetry celebrates humanity, nature, and national unity. Whitman influenced modernism and became a symbol of poetic innovation and freedom of expression in the U.S.
📖 Whitman self-published Leaves of Grass in 1855 and revised it throughout his life. 📰 Worked as a journalist and editor, promoting democratic ideals. ⚔️ Served as a hospital orderly during the Civil War, caring for the wounded. 🌎 His free verse, without rhyme or meter, opened a new era of poetry. 📚 Called the “American Homer” for his epic scope and style. ✨ Influenced poets from Ginsberg to Neruda and Lorca. 💔 Suffered partial paralysis after a stroke but kept writing. 🏛 Numerous U.S. monuments and academic programs honour his legacy. 😂 Fun fact: critics attacked Leaves of Grass as “immoral,” but Whitman joked that the worst fate for a poet was indifference.