Poetry of Walt Whitman

Whitman’s self-published Leaves of Grass was inspired by his travels through the frontier and by his love of Homer, Virgil, and Shakespeare. This very important for American literature publication underwent eight subsequent editions during his lifetime as Whitman expanded and revised the poetry and continued to add more material to the original collection of 12 poems. We will read the 150th Anniversary Edition (1855 Edition) with Foreword by Harold Bloom.

This series of 4 monthly meetings will include live readings and discussions of Whitman’s life, poetry and poetics. For the first meeting please read the Introduction (by Whitman) and first 3 poems: Song of Myself, A Song for Occupations, and To Think of Time.

To enrich your reading of the Leaves of Grass, Specimen Days and Collect by Whitman are also highly recommended.