If you feel inclined to lounge on the lawn today, we encourage you to crack open a copy of ‘Leaves of Grass,’ the life’s work of American poet Walt Whitman, whose birthday is May 31. When ‘Leaves of Grass’ was first released in 1855 it was considered controversial for its imagery of sexuality among other wide-ranging topics. Expressed as a form of free verse without rhyme and with ever-changing meter and rhythm, Whitman’s style was highly personal, but also expansive, meant to reflect the limitless possibilities of Americans and the United States itself. He spent years revising and adding to the compilation of poems and today is regarded as one of the most important of American poets. He once said, "Keep your face always toward the sunshine—and shadows will fall behind you."
Leaves of Grass
Today in History
More Desktop Wallpapers:
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Birds of a feather flocking together
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Celebrating World Wildlife Day
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Cousins Day
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In praise of bogs, swamps, and marshes
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A circular celebration
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World Architecture Day
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It’s Penguin Awareness Day
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Land of the midnight sun
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Autumn in Alaska
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A tower of light
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Eastern grey kangaroos in Australia’s Kosciuszko National Park
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Museum Night in Berlin
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Iceberg off the coast of Antarctica
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World Wildlife Conservation Day
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A gorge-ous mill in the Causses
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World Book Day
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Corfe gets creepy
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A little blue
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International Day of Peace
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Groundhog Day
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Mada’in Saleh archeological site in Saudi Arabia
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Happy Halloween!
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And to think that I saw it in Cappadocia
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Hey, you two in the front!
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Fossil Day
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In search of roadside attractions on ‘America’s Highway’
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Party like it’s 5779
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Going with the floe
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Remembering the Velvet Revolution
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An uncommonly cool critter