People are entitled to their opinions; such is this right that is bestowed upon us. How one is to interpret that opinion is subject to debate. Are we to fault a person for their certain beliefs, whatever they may be? Obviously, throughout history the many great thinkers that have come before us were opinionated people, which is why they were and have become such respected and enduring figures. That sentiment holds true for Walt Whitman. Often referred to as the "poet of democracy", Whitman settled in Camden in the early 1870's, where he had come to visit his dying mother at his brother's house. However, after suffering a stroke, Whitman found it impossible to return to
             Washington. He stayed with his brother until the 1882 publication of "Leaves of Grass",
             which gave Whitman enough money to purchase a modest home in Camden for the sum of $800. While in Camden, in addition to revising "Leaves of Grass", he continued to work on an assortment of manuscripts, as well as preparing his final volume of poems and prose, "Good-Bye, My Fancy". During his final years, a man by the name of Horace L. Traubel began recording his daily conversations with Whitman. His insight on an array of topics, from "Leaves of Grass" to the dangers America faces, to the appreciation of the simple things and beyond are incredibly revealing and offer a glimpse into the creative consciousness that is Walt Whitman.
             "There are two things in 'Leaves of Grass' which dominate everything else--which give it meaning and coherency--two things, found, I hope, in every page--I was going to say, every word. The first is atmosphere: that what we call phenomena, facts, reason, intellect, are not the explications of life--that that lies deeper, is a more penetrating factor--is deep, deep, deep below all casual eyesight or insight either.... The other principle, to call it that, is that man is in process of being--that his justifica...