On this day in 1819, iconic American poet Walt Whitman was born in New York. Often called the father

On this day in 1819, iconic American poet Walt Whitman was born in New York.

Often called the father of free verse, Whitman was controversial in his time because of his work’s overt homoeroticism.

At times Whitman’s sexuality was the creative force behind his writing, particularly in the poem “Song of Myself.”