WALT WHITMAN's BIRTHDAY
He was born on this day in May, 1819.
Among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse.
He was part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works.
Whitman was also a teacher, a journalist and for three years during the American Civil War, famously a volunteer nurse.
Seeing his brother George wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg, while serving with the Union Army in 1862 motivated him to visit and care for wounded soldiers. Whitman estimated he made 600 hospital visits and visited 100,000 wounded Union and Confederate soldiers during this time.
Grateful thanks to onthisday.com.
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