Calamus

poems by Whitman

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June 22, 2026

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The "Calamus" poems are a section within Walt Whitman's seminal poetry collection, Leaves of Grass. First published in the third edition of Leaves of Grass in 1860, these poems are noted for their exploration of intense personal crisis and, significantly, an apparent homosexual love affair, whether real or imagined.12

The term "calamus" itself refers to the hollow basal portion of a feather, also known as a quill, or to sweet flag, a plant with an aromatic rhizome. In Whitman's work, the "Calamus" poems are often interpreted as symbolizing a deep, intimate connection and love, particularly between men, reflecting a personal and emotional landscape within the broader themes of American identity and democracy present in Leaves of Grass. This collection, like the rest of Leaves of Grass, was written in free verse and was considered controversial for its time.3124

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Walt Whitman
Early life
The 1860 volume contained the “Calamus” poems, which record a personal crisis of some intensity in Whitman’s life, an apparent homosexual love affair (whether imagined or real is unknown), and “Premonition” (later entitled “Starting from Paumanok”), which records the violent emotions that often drained the poet’s strength. “A Word out…
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The 1860 volume contained the “Calamus” poems, which record a personal crisis of some intensity in Whitman’s life, an apparent homosexual love affair (whether imagined or real is unknown), and “Premonition” (later entitled “Starting from Paumanok”), which records the violent emotions that often drained the poet’s strength. “A Word out…
Read More