“I am of old and young, of the foolish as much as the wise,Regardless of others, ever regardful of others,Maternal as well as paternal, a child as well as a man,Stuffed with the stuff that is course, and stuffed with the stuff that is fine, one of the nation, of many nations, the smallest the same and the the largest”

American poet of the mid-19th century, Whitman is best known for his groundbreaking collection *Leaves of Grass*, which redefined free verse and celebrated democracy, individuality, and the human experience. His work blends raw lyricism with unflinching observations of life, labor, and nature, making him a cornerstone of American literature.