Combining biographical profiles with poetry selections, this multicultural language arts series highlights the lives and talent of some of the world's most influential poets. From Shakespeare's love sonnets to Hughes's songs of the Black experience, each newly designed title introduces high school readers to a distinct literary voice by featuring full-length poems, or excerpts from larger works, and examinations of the writer's style and thematic material. "I celebrate myself, and I sing myself, / And what I assume you shall assume ." Discover these words and more in this exploration of the life and work of 19th-century American poet Walt Whitman, whose poetry and prose are known for their passionate celebration of American life and their direct, speechlike style. High school readers will be inspired and develop a newfound appreciation for verse through this biographical nonfiction title. Includes full poems and excerpts from the writer's most famous literary works, such as "Song of Myself," as well as captivating images and an index.