Song of Myself by Walt Whitman

This selection from Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" is a long-form poem that begins with a declaration of self-celebration and the interconnectedness of humanity. The speaker expresses a deep love for nature and the physical world, emphasizing sensory experiences and a rejection of conventional learning in favor of direct perception. The poem touches on the eternal cycle of life and death, the concept of universal sex and procreation, and the inherent perfection of all things.