Walt Whitman
Poet and humanist (1819 - 1892) United States

Walt was the second of nine siblings, and since the family's financial situation was precarious, he had to start working at age 11. His free spirit already shone in his adolescence, as at 15 he was writing free verse with complex ideas. At 30, he wrote "Leaves of Grass," his masterpiece which he continued to revise and modify until his death. It represented a break with traditional poetics, both in terms of content and style. Walt explored the possibilities of free verse, using simple language close to prose, while creating a new mythology for the country. His work was highly controversial in his time and was described as obscene due to its open sexuality. A sexuality that still generates controversy today, as he may have been a victim of homophobic censorship. Whitman became a respected literary avant-gardist who received visits from young artists from all over the world. His work always affirmed the importance and uniqueness of all human beings. "Never stop believing that words and poetry can indeed change the world."