Poetry Challenge #298-Chewing On a Cigar
When anyone asks about Long Island, where it is in New York, especially in proximity to Manhattan, I describe it as being a long thin cigar sticking out of its mouth. And today’s poet, Walt Whitman, known as the first writer of truly American poetry, was born and raised at the head of the cigar, on the family farm in Huntington, Long Island.
The second of nine children in a farming family, Whitman lived from May 31, 1819 -1892 and often wrote about democracy, nature, love, and friendship.
His first collection Leaves of Grass, a thin volume of poem, called a quintessential collection of American poetry, was published in 1855, not by an established publisher—because none would take it—but by friends of his Whitman strong armed. Leaves of Grass has been in print ever since.
Whitman often wrote about political figures without naming the person. “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d” and “O Captain, My Captain” are both written about Abraham Lincoln. Below is just the opening of “O Captain, My Captain” and a bit more of “When Lilacs…”:
This poem goes on for 16 stanzas. Read it in its entirely at Poetry Foundation:
Poetry Challenge #298
Chewing on the Cigar
Walt Whitman often ignored the standards of rhyme and rhythm and is said to be a father of free verse.
Choose one historical person or event and write about it without naming the person/event. You can write with rhyme or not. Try to capture the feeling you have about this person/event.
Set Your Timer for 7 Minutes
Start Writing!
Don’t Think About it, Write It!
Walt Whitman’s Birthplace is now a museum, interpretive center and the start of the Walt Whitman trail, 40 miles of glorious nature trails with nary a tobacco plant to be found, with Jayne’s Hill, elevation 400 feet, the high point. Here’s a photo taken when Whitman, then 65 visited.
Cindy Faughnan and I began this 7-Minute Poetry Challenge 2400+ days ago. Now we take turns creating prompts to share with you. Our hope is that creatives—children & adults—will use our prompts as springboards to word play time. If you join us in the Challenge, let us know by posting the title, a note, or if you want, the whole poem in the comments.
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