Leaves of Grass: The Original 1855 EditionIn 1855, Walt Whitman published — at his own expense — the first edition of Leaves of Grass, a visionary volume of twelve poems. Showing the influence of a uniquely American form of mysticism known as Transcendentalism, which eschewed the general society and culture of the time, the writing is distinguished by an explosively innovative free verse style and previously unmentionable subject matter. Exalting nature, celebrating the human body, and praising the senses and sexual love, the monumental work was condemned as "immoral." Whitman continued evolving Leaves of Grass despite the controversy, growing his influential work decades after its first appearance by adding new poems with each new printing. This edition presents the original twelve poems from Whitman's premier 1855 publication of Leaves of Grass. Included are some of the greatest poems of modern times: "Song of Myself," "I Sing the Body Electric," and "There Was a Child Went Forth" (which in the first editions of Leaves of Grass were still nameless), works that continue to upset conventional notions of beauty and originality even today. |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
American arctic sea arms Askers babe beard beautiful become Bliss Perry blood body breast breath Brooklyn brother child cornets corpse crowd curious daguerreotype dark dead death decillions divine dreamed drunkard earth embouchure equally wonderful eternal eyes eyesight face faith fall father feet forever free verse give goes greatest poet hair hand head hear heart heaven heroes hostler immortal kisses kosmos laugh Leaves of Grass less light limbs lips live look lover master mockingbird mother mother’s nation neck never night onanist pass perceive perfect persimmon person poems post-consumer waste President’s prostitute prudence quaker quintillions rest rich sail ships slave sleep soul sound spirit stand stars stop stretches surely sweet swimmer tell things thought tongue touch turn voice wait walk Walt Whitman Whitman whoever woman women words young