The Wound Dresser

MP3 Audio CD. Walt Whitman was one of the greatest and most controversial poets of the 19th century, many of his countless works incorporating his views on transcendentalism and humanism remaining as a testament to his skills and talent, being recognized even today.

A highly influential poet, Whitman was often called the ?father of free verse? due to his dedication to this form of poetry, despite the fact that it hadn't been widely in use during his time. The Wound Dresser is a good example of one of his more successful free verse poems, and also offers significant insight into the famous journalist and author's role when it came to the transition he was a leading contributor for, from transcendentalism to realism.

The poem itself speaks about Whitman's own first hand experience and lyrical expressions on nursing the sick and dying. While it contains no significant graphical imagery, nor does it make use of strong words that would normally accompany the description of such conditions,he manages to create a deeply expressive and highly sophisticated atmosphere the likes of which was not usually found through the poetry written by his contemporaries.

Walt Whitman's depictions of compassion and sacrifice are deeply touching, while his subtle attention to detail unrivaled in its genuine consistency. Readers and critics throughout history have rightfully attributed Whitman's literary success to The Wound Dresser and similar poems the author had written, also pointing out his successful use of the free-verse style in an era when the rhyming verse was still dominant.

Whitman's descriptions of wounded soldiers and of the goings on in the hospital during the time of the Civil War are painfully authentic, and his nursing experience, as well as his detailed knowledge of war-time decisions in the hospital become clearly displayed through the poem's verses.