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Why did Song of Myself face censorship during Walt Whitman’s lifetime?

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“Walt Whitman, an American, one of the roughs, a kosmos” — Walt Whitman American poet Walt Whitman, photograph by Mathew Brady.

"Song of Myself," a central poem in Walt Whitman’s collection Leaves of Grass, faced frequent censorship and suppression during the poet's lifetime primarily due to its frank and explicit treatment of the human body and sexual passion.12

While Whitman intended these themes to be spiritual and symbolic of nature’s regenerative power, his inclusion of explicit references—ranging from genitals to bodily functions—violated the prevailing social taboos of the 19th century. Additionally, the collection was often criticized for its homoerotic themes, which further fueled controversy and led to charges of indecency.12

These objections had tangible consequences:
* Professional impact: In 1865, Whitman was fired from his position at the Bureau of Indian Affairs due to the content of his work.2
* Legal and institutional challenges: The book was frequently banned in public libraries, and in 1881, the Society for the Suppression of Vice threatened prosecution against a Boston edition, forcing a change in publishers.23