Art as Inspiration

Walt Whitman, 1819-1892
Leaves of Grass, Special Edition, 1982
Call Number: C17185

Originally published in 1855, the first edition of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass included 12 poems. Over the course of his lifetime, he continued to expand the work, eventually amassing over 400 poems in the final edition. Often considered one of the most important American poets of the 19^th century, Whitman’s work captures themes of freedom, democracy, sensuality, and the material body. Several of his poems also address topics around aging, death, and immortality, such as To Old Age, Thanks in Old Age, Halcyon Days, and Continuities. Together, these pieces capture gratitude for the memories and hardships brought by aging, the continuity and immortal nature of the human spirit, and the serene and blissful pleasure of an idealized old age.

Here, we see his poem My 71^st Year, first published in 1889, alongside three contemporary poems inspired by the style, structure, and substance of Whitman’s original. These echoes of Whitman’s work were written in the summer of 2025 by three students from the same poetry class. They depict other equally distinctive stages of life from different perspectives and indicate the potential of using creative expressions around aging as a jumping-off point for further reflection, discussion, and connection.

What experiences and themes might arise in a depiction of your own current year of life?