Instead of slotting Walt Whitman into the null and neutered, or pseudo, category of poet and poetry, he is better understood as political theorist– of democracy.
(His greatness may be due to the narrowing of his focus– of politics, Walt Whitman thinks only of democracy, as if only democracy is politically viable, and worthy of theorization.)
Walt (not to be misunderstood as Walt, as in Disney) takes very seriously what many of us derogate from serious thought, into slogan:
Liberty, Fraternity, Egality.
Walt is tenacious as a terrier. He fiercely bites into each, and never lets go.
Spam of Human Affection 
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