“I will write the evangel-poem of comrades and of love.”

— Walt Whitman, "Starting from Paumanok", section 6

About Walt Whitman

1819 – 1892

American poet and essayist who revised 'Leaves of Grass' across nearly four decades, celebrating democracy, the body and the self.

“Do I contradict myself? Very well then I contradict myself, (I am large, I contain multitudes.)”

“Each moment and whatever happens thrills me with joy.”

“It is a beautiful truth that all men contain something of the artist in them.”

“If music be the food of love, play on.”

“Give all to love; obey thy heart.”

“What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil.”

“The spiritualization of sensuality is called love.”

“There is not love of life without despair about life.”

“The opposite of an idealist is too often a man without love.”