31 May 2020

Happy Birthday, Whitman


Walt Whitman was born on this date in 1819.

The United States themselves are essentially the greatest poem. In the history of the earth hitherto the largest and most stirring appear tame and orderly to their ampler largeness and stir. Here at last is something in the doings of man that corresponds with the broadcast doings of the day and night. Here is not merely a nation but a teeming nation of nations. Here is action untied from strings necessarily blind to particulars and details magnificently moving in vast masses. Here is the hospitality which forever indicates heroes.  Here are the roughs and beards and space and ruggedness and nonchalance that the soul loves.

Walt Whitman, from Preface to Leaves of Grass

No comments:

Post a Comment