Camden and others celebrate Walt Whitman’s birthday

    Walt Whitman wrote about how he heard America singing in one of his most famous poems. Maybe he can hear America still singing Happy Birthday to him nearly 120 years after his death.

    Celebrations of the poet are taking place today throughout the country, particularly in Camden, N.J., where Whitman lived out his final days. He’d be 192.

    Whitman was a celebrated patriot, but he also crossed some controversial lines with much of his work.

    “Whitman made it possible for people to talk about their own lives in poetry, directly. He introduced the element of autobiography, ” Dr. J.T Barbarese, Associate Professor of English at Rutgers University-Camden, told KYW.

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    Whitman also holds the title of father of free verse, which is another testament to his game-changing work.

    Happy birthday, Walt!

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