Back in the 1870s, this was hot stuff. But to me, it is like a bunch of entries in the World's Longest Run-on Sentence contest. Jesus, Walt! Were you too poor to afford some periods?!?
Oh, and the self-glorification.
It was all too much. I just shelved the thing and moved on. ( )

Got a facsimile copy of the 1855 first edition so I could read this in its original form, and for the preface which didn't appear in many subsequent editions. I'm glad I did, to get the interesting typographical things Whitman did with this publication. ( )

$950. original green cloth, gilt-decorated spine, gilt lettering, t.e.g., others untrimmed. Frontis portrait and one leaf of manuscript facsimile. An interesting and uncommon edition of Leaves of Grass, which according to BAL contains the first appearance the 13 poems that comprise "Old Age Echoes" - though Myerson does not recognize that. Herbert Small was one of the founders of Small Maynard in Boston, and Leaves of Grass was one of their first publications, the rights to which they acquired from Whitman's literary executors. This copy may well have been one of the first ones off the press as there is also a signature, The matter of the cancel leaf "Good Bye My Fancy" is a possible reference to later issues having a hyphen between good and bye.

I read this over the course of a few months, and probably should have read it more slowly. Some of his poems really resonate for me, especially "Song of the Open Road" and "Song of Myself." Many of his poems have beautiful individual lines, but taken as a whole just become a jumble of words and lists, rapidly becoming tedious. I love his total acceptance of everyone, regardless of sex, his comfort with sexuality and physicality. I feel he was very authentic, especially given the times he lived in. His poems are a celebration of America and its people, rather than a call for change. ( )

Walt Whitman was a visionary, a tolerant and kind man, who spoke out about injustices and did not allow himself to conform. Looking into the soul of human motivation and reaction, he purposefully chose everyday people to demonstrate his loftiest ideas. He had deep feelings about humanity's return to the earth, completing the cycle of life. The war greatly influenced his ideals, and probably was a trigger for him to create updated editions of this poem, and with each he honed the lines and the placement. In many ways, this self educated and self published author was also a book maker - taking into account everything about the physical book as well as the content. He rejected censorship and joined in with other bohemian writers of the day. I read this poem slowly with a class over a period of weeks, and we discussed a lot of the background, and how his words were influenced by the events of the day. Walt Whitman's vision and words are relevant still today.
Excerpt from section Full Of Life Now
"When you read these I that was visible am become invisible,
Now it is you, compact, visible, realizing my poems, seeking me,
Fancying how happy you were if I could be with you and become your comrade;
Be it as if I were with you. (Be not too certain but I am now with you.)"
( )