Leaves Of Grass

In 1855 Walt Whitman published his first collection of poetry leaves of gras. The poems of leaves of grass are loosely connected with each representing whitmans celebration of his philosophy of life and humanity. This book is notable for its discussion of delight in sensual pleasures during a time when such candid displays were considered immoral. Influenced by Ralph br>Waldo Emerson and the transcendentalist movement itself an offshoot of Romanticism whitmans poetry praises nature and the individual humanitys role in it.Leaves of grass was highly controversial during its time for its explicit sexual imagery and Whitman was subject to derision by many contemporary critics. Over time however the collection has infiltrated popular culture and been recognised as one of the central works of American poetry.