Walt Whitman was born near Long Island in 1819.
He was the second of nine children born to Walter
and Louisa Whitman. At the tender age of 11, Walt
finished school and began working. Starting as an
apprentice, Whitman soon learned the trade of printing.
Following a decline in the printing industry, Whitman
took up teaching.
Whitman decided he would become a poet and this
lead to his magnum opus Leaves of Grass. Whitman's
sprawling free verse earned him immediate notoriety.
While the feedback on Leaves of Grass was mixed,
Whitman continued to write more poems and revise Leaves of Grass.
Following a stroke in 1873, Whitman's career began
to slow. His poetic output declined dramatically in
perfect rhythm with his health. Whitman died March
26, 1892.
"My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air, Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same, I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin, Hoping to cease not till death." - Song of Myself
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Bio
Walt Whitman was born near Long Island in 1819.
He was the second of nine children born to Walter
and Louisa Whitman. At the tender age of 11, Walt
finished school and began working. Starting as an
apprentice, Whitman soon learned the trade of printing.
Following a decline in the printing industry, Whitman
took up teaching.
Whitman decided he would become a poet and this
lead to his magnum opus Leaves of Grass. Whitman's
sprawling free verse earned him immediate notoriety.
While the feedback on Leaves of Grass was mixed,
Whitman continued to write more poems and revise
Leaves of Grass.
Following a stroke in 1873, Whitman's career began
to slow. His poetic output declined dramatically in
perfect rhythm with his health. Whitman died March
26, 1892.
Major Works
Song of Myself
Beat! Beat! Drums!
Among the Multitude
Leaves of Grass
Videos
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