I got this and the first version Leaves of Grass from Amelia for Christmas and it was fun to read them back to back and see how his perspective matured over the 30 years in between.

Just saw this on an Amazon e-mail and thought it sounded interesting. Tied to Michael Cunningham's Specimen Days -- even the cover uis similar -- and presents excerpts of Whitman including Whitman's own writing titled Specimen Days from which Cunningham took his own title.

"Laws for Creation"
By Walt Whitman

Laws for Creations,
For strong artists and leaders—for fresh broods of teachers, and perfect
literats for America,
For noble savans, and coming musicians.

All must have reference to the ensemble of the world, and the compact truth of
the world;
There shall be no subject too pronounced—All works shall illustrate the
divine law of indirections.

What do you suppose Creation is?
What do you suppose will satisfy the Soul, except to walk free, and own no
superior?
What do you suppose I would intimate to you in a hundred ways, but that man or
woman is as good as God?
And that there is no God any more divine than Yourself?
And that that is what the oldest and newest myths finally mean?
And that you or any one must approach Creations through such laws?

Beautiful. Probably one of my favorite books.

Walt Whitman's work has always been intriguing to me. Laws of Creations is a great read all the way through! His literary style is timeless, I would read it again! :)

There are volumes of Whitman available everywhere (my favorite is the Essential Whitman by Galway Kinnel). This is a quality paperback and worth the read just for Cunningham's introduction.

Booorinng

Checked out from the English Language section at the public library so there weren’t many options

Better off just grabbing Leaves of Grass, obviously.