Theresa Williams and Walt Whitman

[Nancy Bell Scott]

I find this beautiful beyond words:

For some, it may be a first to see a photo of Walt Whitman younger than how he is usually pictured, as an old man with white beard.  Here he is the handsome, sensitive, strong, and yet vulnerable-looking poet of his earlier years (in his 30s?), when he began to write "Leaves of Grass," and Theresa's piece has done him full justice, in every sense of the word "full."  She not only created this beautiful and ethereal portrayal of Whitman -- with delicate gauze of ribbon covering the lower half of his face and the word "folly" and term "culture clash" -- but also included a quote from one of his critics in 1860 (which includes that word "folly").  Inside there is a Whitman quote and a simple display of a few earlier American stamps:

Below is Theresa's note, because it expresses how much Whitman means to her.  This is a very special and poignant piece, Theresa, and I treasure it.  Thank you so much.