A Tribute to Walt Whitman

I grew up five miles from Walt Whitman's birthplace, and the first time I heard of him was when they built the Whitman Mall in Huntington, Long Island.

Now I know Walt loved the hurly burly of the crowd, but I think of the ocean when I think of him. As much as anything, he loved rambling along the Long Island coast. That's why the setting of my tribute to Old Walt is the seashore. In fact, the rhythm of the poem mimics the movement of waves.

I used his famous poem "I Hear America Singing" as a model for my piece. And like Whitman's poem, I tried to celebrate the wonderful unity of America's diversity.

Enjoy!