Walt Whitman's Impact On American Poetry

Walt Whitman was one to the most influential and timeless poets America has ever produced. A master of the written word, Whitman never failed to produce anything less than what was needed to convey his ideas precisely. Of the some eighty years he was alive, Whitman never ceased to create and never stopped giving to the world more than it deserves in terms of poetry. Through his life, work, and lasting impact on the world you can ascertain why he is considered the father of American poetry.

Whitman was born in 1819, the second of nine children, in West Hills, New York. Often said to have a restless and somewhat turbulent childhood, Whitman grew up to understand the importance of family, simplicity, and happiness. By the time he was 29, Whitman
became determined to become a poet after failure in typical ventures. In his last remaining years, Whitman is said to have died of tuberculosis among other things resulting in a slow, painful death. Throughout his life, Whitman never stopped reaching for the stars. He never stopped trying to achieve his goals despite the circumstances he found himself in. This had a profound effect on his subject matter and the way he approached writing. Had it not been for his unconventional life, we would not have such beautiful examples of the written word today.

“O Captain My Captain”,“Give Me the Splendid, Silent Sun”, and “A Song of Myself” encapsulates how Whitman presented his ideas to the reader.
Seeing as poetry is often an extension of the self, these three poems can be considered as an extension of Whitman. The repetition of the line, “Fallen cold and dead” (Whitman 8) in the poem “O Captain My Captain” emphasizes the grieving country’s dismay at the news of President Lincoln’s assassination and cemented the severity of the situation. Surely at the time, this would have caused all who read it to realize what he meant to the country and how terribly he would be missed. In “Give Me the Splendid, Silent Sun”, Whitman details the beauty of nature particularly seen in the countryside comparing it to the vibrancy of life in the city, marking each distinction as beautiful in their own merit. This would cause the reader to consider the beauty of their own surroundings, proving the timelessness of his writing. “For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you” (Whitman 3) “A Song of Myself” warrants marked recognition. It details how Whitman thought of himself as no less or more than any other living being. It details the value of human equality, and makes the reader consider their own position in the game of life, again an ode to the timelessness of Whitman’s work. Throughout these examples of Whitman’s work there is a common theme of humanity. From these you can learn the value of human goodness and also ascertain that
Whitman was a person of innate compassion and understanding.

Poetry is delicate medium in which to express the most inner workings of the mind.
It can be used to rouse every emotion and it is through this medium that you can master the English language. It takes a person who knows the balance between genuineness and pretentious misinterpretation in lieu of creativity to create bodies of work that inspire you in every sense of the word. Whitman is an excellent example of someone whose has done this.
Throughout his life, he wrote hundreds of poems which inspire those who read it. His work beautifully bridges the gap between transcendentalism and realism. This makes for poetry that is neither farfetched and hard to grasp nor too concrete or an injustice to his subject matter. In simpler terms, a perfect balance between the two. Whitman’s work has no doubt inspired generations of future poets. It encapsulates the beauty of the written word and shows how poetry can be utilized in an exemplary fashion.

Whitman will always remain an influential figure in the realm of poetry. He serves as a household name for humanity, beauty, and wisdom. Through his life and death, he exemplified complete compassion and understanding in relation to others and understood the value of each. Whitman will never cease to inspire anyone who reads his work and will always remain the father of American
poetry.