American poet, essayist and journalist Walter “Walt” Whitman was born on May 31, 1819.  He passed away on March 26, 1892.  Often called the father of free verse, he was a humanist who marked the transition between and incorporated both transcendentalism and realism.  Always a bit controversial , his work Leaves of Grass was considered by some to be obscene due to its sexuality.

Poems by Walt Whitman may be read beginning here:

http://www.bartleby.com/42/813.html

Or, alternatively, a reading of One’s Self I Sing may be listened to in an audio format here: