Leaves of Grass
Many critics criticize Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass. The Boston Intelligencer condemned his poetry as full of “bombast, egotism, vulgarity and nonsense". A few critics wanted Whitman to be punished. He deserves “the lash for such a violation of decency”. It is beyond comprehension why some of the critics called Leaves of Grass a dirty book. We should remember that both R.W. Emerson and Thoreau admired his poetry. Thoreau aptly remarked: “He has spoken more truth than any American or modern that I know. I have found his poem exhilarating, encouraging.” Take for example the following lines: I know that the hand of God is the promise of my own, And I know that the spirit of God is the brother of my own, And that all the men ever born are also my brothers, and the women my sisters and lovers, And that a kelson of the creation is love. What a magnificent, sharp, noble and clear thought! The lines show a force of Whitman’s originality and spiritual observance. The beauties...