A Leaf For Hand In Hand
A
Leaf
For
Hand
In
Hand
A
LEAF
for
hand
in
hand!
You
natural
persons
old
and
young!
You
on
the
Mississippi,
and
on
all
the
branches
and
bayous
of
the
Mississippi!
You
friendly
boatmen
and
mechanics!
You
roughs!
You
twain!
And
all
processions
moving
along
the
streets!
I
wish
to
infuse
myself
among
you
till
I
see
it
common
for
you
to
walk
hand
in
hand!
Walt Whitman
Walt Whitman, (born May 31, 1819, West Hills, Long Island, New York, U.S.—died March 26, 1892, Camden, New Jersey), American poet, journalist, and essayist whose verse collection Leaves of Grass, first published in 1855, is a landmark in the history of American literature. Walt Whitman’s poetry was innovative for its verse style and for the way it challenged traditional narratives. He championed the individual soul over social conventions, presenting himself as a rough and free spirit. His poetry has continued to resonate with new generations of Americans, and he is considered a symbol of American democracy.