Leaves of Grass, Walt Whitman, 1855

Leaves of Grass Review

About

First published in 1855 and expanded throughout his life, Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass is one of the foundational texts of American poetry—a bold, ecstatic celebration of individuality, democracy, and the body. Whitman wrote not as a distant observer but as a participant in existence itself. His verse broke rules, invented new rhythms, and blurred the line between sacred and ordinary. The book remains a living document—evolving with each reading, like the country it tried to define.

Overview

Whitman’s poetry rejects traditional rhyme and meter in favor of free verse that mirrors the natural speech of his era. The central poem, “Song of Myself,” declares the unity of all people and the holiness of the everyday. Across dozens of revisions, Whitman expanded the book to include meditations on love, death, war, and transcendence. His voice is democratic yet intimate—addressing the reader directly, breaking the wall between poet and audience. It’s poetry as conversation and celebration.

Summary

(light spoilers) The early sections of Leaves of Grass introduce Whitman’s radical philosophy: the self as infinite and divine, intertwined with every other being. Later poems like “Crossing Brooklyn Ferry” and “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” move toward elegy and renewal. Whitman confronts mortality without despair, seeing death as a continuation of the cosmic cycle. His language—earthy, musical, and unashamed—honors the body as sacred ground. The book evolves from youthful exuberance to mature reflection, yet its heartbeat stays constant: the celebration of being alive.

Key Themes / Main Ideas

• The self as universal — “I contain multitudes.”
• Democracy and equality — every soul divine and interconnected.
• The body as spiritual — sensuality as sacred expression.
• Death as transformation — life renewed through decay.
• Poetry as experience — language as an act of unity.

Strengths and Weaknesses

• Strengths — Visionary, musical, and endlessly re-readable.
• Strengths — A landmark in literary freedom and self-expression.
• Weaknesses — The sheer expansiveness can overwhelm first-time readers.
• Weaknesses — Some historical language and imagery feel dated, though the spirit remains timeless.

Reviewed with focus on themes, audience, and takeaways — Walt Whitman