Walt Whitman (31 May 1819 - 26 March 1892 / New York / United States)

The case of Whitman is a complex one. He's among my favorites, yet Kevin Straw has a point: Whitman's major weakness is long-windedness. I have no doubt that his Song of Myself could have been strengthened by a heavy editorial pen. In this regard, I prefer Dickinson because she understood the power of silence and restraint. Yet at his strongest, Whitman displays symphonic exuberance, and he's unquestionably an innovator, which is why the aforementioned weakness can be forgiven. Innovators make a lot of mistakes, and the refiners, though they might produce more polished poems, are less original (generally) . For example, Yeats is more satisfying than Whitman in that his better poems are polished and condensed, but Whitman is still more original.

Song of Myself is easily THE, American Epic, (along with Moby Dick,) that expresses what a generation felt during that period. Reading it is an exploration into both his world, and your own. It is easily of one of the poems that any avid reader of poetry should read.

O what a wordy wordless Whitman. If only he would shut up at the right moment!

I note the comments have been removed from the poems of the day, such is the respect the site creators have for their contributors.

I will always love his beauty and such truthful poetry

i love witman hes my fave poet

...and Borges read and like very much Whitman.

'For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you' - Walt Whitman was way ahead of his time when he wrote 'Leaves of Grass' and it seems, for some, he is still way ahead of the times. Great poet! !

nice beard..wanker
go walt

Whitman is such a hedonist. I love him for it.

Walt Whitman is a genuine poet because he writes his expression freely about his sentiments. He don't have to rhyme to make his poetry meaningful. He has a free verse to make it meaningful and understanding.