Cynthia Shor, Executive Director, speaks in front of Whitman Statue
When we think of Walt Whitman, we think of him as America’s poet, a writer who embraced the spirit of his country and spoke for the masses. As an example of Whitman’s words speaking across oceans, Daisaku Ikeda left Japan in June 1981 to visit the Birthplace of his beloved American poet. Ikeda, third president of the lay Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai, wrote a poem to commemorate this visit.
When I hear the name Whitman,
at once to me, to us
comes the sound of that voice,
sometimes firm,
sometimes gentle,
sometimes like thunder,
with the blue sky for backdrop,
the heavens his stage,
speaking those resounding the words of his
from out of the sun’s bright shining.
-November 18th 1981
Found in the “West Hills Review” Volume 3
Bronze “Whitman with Butterfly” Statue
A life-long fan of Whitman, Ikeda wrote in the guest book on June 20th 1981, “Now I’ve come to the birthplace of Walt Whitman, who, in my youth always uplifted my heart*…” So inspired by his visit and connection to Whitman, Ikeda said “Walt Whitman loved his home country, the United states. Those who love the place where they live are happy. You must love your home, your alma mater, your friends and your local community. You should not envy others and lose your heart.” The entire experience was momentous for both Ikeda and the Walt Whitman Birthplace Association and in 2011 Soka Gakkai International-USA gifted a statue of Walt Whitman to be erected on the lawn where the poet first grew up. Upon its unveiling on June 26th 2011, the Association hosted a ceremony to present Daisaku Ikeda with the Walt Whitman Champion of Literacy Award. The 8′ statue, entitled “Whitman with Butterfly” was created by sculptor John Giannotti and was inspired by a photo taken at the Philip and Taylor studio in Philadelphia. Copies of the statue can by found at SGI’s headquarters in Tokyo and in Camden, New Jersey.
Whitman with Butterfly Photograph
It is an honor to share an international connection with the “good grey poet’s” birthplace and we hope that visitors from all over the world will find the same sort of inspiration when they visit
Click the link to read the poem Ikeda wrote on March 26th 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Whitman’s Passing: “Like the Sun Rising”
Please Donate to keep the Whitman spirit alive in West Hills.
The Walt Whitman Birthplace 