Walt Whitman, one of the most influential poets in American history, was born on May 31, 1819, in West Hills, New York. Known for his groundbreaking work Leaves of Grass, Whitman revolutionized American poetry with his free verse style and profound celebration of individualism, nature, democracy, and the human spirit. His work continues to inspire art lovers, poets, and thinkers today—and his timeless words can be found in the very art we create.