Unlaunch'd Voices ― An Evening With Walt Whitman

“I know that Leaves of Grass has proven to be worse than a failure…I cannot separate the book from myself…”This inspirational play, written with Walt Whitman's own words and poetry, takes place on May 30, 1889, Walt Whitman’s seventieth birthday. A celebration dinner to honor the poet is scheduled and many friends and celebrated guests are to attend. As Whitman prepares himself for the event, we, the audience, are an intimate visitor in his room. Walt welcomes us and starts to reminisce, questioning his success as a man and a poet. This search leads us through Whitman’s life- a journey filled with humor, pathos and poetry.As we witness the “mystical experience” that inspired the creation of Leaves of Grass, Walt transforms into his younger self. We hear of his strong opposition to censorship, his celebratory views on sex and the human body, and his struggle with his sexual self. We learn about the harsh reception of his critics and the now famous letter of encouragement from Ralph Waldo Emerson. We later become witness to the agonies of the Civil War, and Whitman’s involvement as caretaker to the sick and wounded. It is here on the battlefield where Whitman finds “the most important work of my life.” By reassessing his life with us, Walt Whitman comes to an understanding about himself, God and Death that is transformative for him and the audience.

Michael Z. Keamy is a playwright and actor currently residing in Boston, Ma. His play Unlaunch'd Voices, An Evening with Walt Whitman has been performed nationally. Mr. Keamy is also author of the plays BODY/WORKS and the collection of shorts plays, Three Plays about Life and Death.