Leaves of Grass
Ratings56
Average rating3.9
15
Ratings56
Average rating3.9
**Leaves of Grass** is a poetry collection by American poet Walt Whitman. First published in 1855, Whitman spent most of his professional life writing and rewriting *Leaves of Grass*, revising it multiple times until his death. There have been held to be either six or nine individual editions of Leaves of Grass, the count varying depending on how they are distinguished.[2] This resulted in vastly different editions over four decades—the first edition being a small book of twelve poems, and the last, a compilation of over 400.
(Source: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaves_of_Grass))
Reviews with the most likes.
An epic set of poems designed to suit the special conditions of a new nation in a given moment of its growth
Wow. I could read this for a lifetime and not be finished. It is so rare to read something so lyrical and delicious and powerful that it makes you fall in love with the world and then inspires you to go out into it and DO something.
More thoughts in the Jacqui's Room Notes.
Well that was A LOT.
Nature poems feel like a hyperverbose Mary Oliver, not my preferred format.
Preferred shorter, quieter moments of description in between grand proclamations, where it only takes a few sentences instead of a great list, i.e. ‘Sparkles From the Wheel'.
Long tracts on ‘war's human cost is awful' which OF COURSE, but not a sentiment I want to read on repeat. Also long tracts on ‘America, yay!' which seems to vacillate between entreating and proclaiming America to be great - suffice to say they didn't work for me.
Whitman seems to be optimistic and open minded to the point of naivete which doesn't mean he's immune to the missteps of how society viewed minorities at the time; I THINK he was pushing for equality, he SAID it a lot, but he kept describing black people and women in specific terms and exalting the able-bodied which, yeah, no.
Then there's all the sex and death which makes me think that a) the scholars suggesting bisexual/pansexual poet hypothesis are correct and b) like probably everybody who lives through a time of conflict, Whitman had unresolved trauma/obsession with what he witnessed (volunteering at hospital during American Civil War).
Estimate that given barriers (epic poetic structure and historical time of writing), I got 75% reading comprehension, 10% wincing as a modern reader.
