WALT WHITMAN Leaves of Grass

To me, every cubic inch of space is a miracle

To me, every cubic inch of space is a miracle…Welcome is every organ and attitude of me…Not an inch, nor a particle of an inch is vile. WALT WHITMAN (1819–1892)

WALT WHITMAN Jr. was an American essayist, journalist, and poet.

He is regarded as one of America’s most significant 19th-century poets (Along with Emily Dickinson) who influenced many upcoming poets, like C.K. Williams, Simon Ortiz, Ezra Pound, and many others.

His most famous poem, Leaves of Grass (1855, 1891–2), is a beautiful work of art, packed with unconventional wisdom on nature, democracy, the equality of all people, friendship, love, beauty, and reassurance even in death.

Leaves of Grass would later seize the attention of American essayist, Ralph Waldo Emerson, who immediately became a fan of Whitman’s artistry, alongside British writers who celebrated his work.

Emerson would later declare Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, as “the most extraordinary piece of wit and wisdom that America has yet contributed.”

The following is an excerpt from Whitman’s Leaves of Grass on Miracle.

A short poem that uplifts and inspired generations.