Calamus

Walt Whitman (1819–1892) was a pioneering American poet, essayist, and journalist, best known for his groundbreaking collection Leaves of Grass. Born in Long Island, New York, he worked in various trades, including printing, teaching, and journalism, before dedicating himself fully to poetry. Whitman celebrated democracy, the human body, and the spiritual potential of everyday life through free verse and an innovative, expansive style. His poetry broke conventional boundaries and championed individuality and equality. One notable section of Leaves of Grass is Calamus, a series of poems exploring themes of male-male affection, comradeship, and emotional intimacy. Calamus has been central to discussions about Whitman’s sexuality and the homoerotic undertones in his work. During the Civil War, Whitman served as a nurse, experiences that deeply shaped his later poems. Revered as the “father of free verse,” Whitman left a profound legacy on American literature and modern poetic expression.