Walt Whitman Walt Whitman was considered one of the greatest 19th century poet. His poetry was mainly idealistic and romantic. He rejected the normal rhythm of writing poetry and wrote in free verse for the common man. He didn't care what others thought of him and his work. He wanted to be the American voice.

Whitman loved his country and everything about it and was looked as the republican poet. In his greatest accomplishment, Leaves of Grass, he wrote mostly about his love for his country. But the world was not ready for Whitman's view of the human body and spirit, and his work was ignored and ridiculed. Whitman lived during the time of the Civil War. He saw what human suffering was and how it affected everyone. This experience prompt him to become a civil war nurse. During this time, he met Abraham Lincoln, whom he became...