Walt Whitman (/ˈhwɪtmən/; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sensuality. Whitman's ow...

Walt Whitman (/ˈhwɪtmən/; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sensuality. Whitman's ow...

En commençant mes études le premier pas m’a plu si fort,Le simple fait de la conscience, ces formes, la motilité,Le moindre insecte ou animal, les sens, la vue, l’amour,Le premier pas, dis-je, m’a frappé d’un tel respect et plu si fort,Que je ne suis guère allé et n’ai guère eu envie d’aller plus loin,Mais de m’arrêter à musarder tout le temps pour chanter cela en chants extasiés.