Premise: Walter `` Walt '' Whitman ( [ ˈhwɪtmən ] May 31 , 1819 -- March 26 , 1892 ) was an American poet , essayist , and journalist . His work was very controversial in its time , particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass , which was described as obscene for its overt sexuality . Born in Huntington on Long Island , Whitman worked as a journalist , a teacher , a government clerk , and -- in addition to publishing his poetry -- was a volunteer nurse during the American Civil War . Whitman 's major work , Leaves of Grass , was first published in 1855 with his own money .
Hypothesis: Walt Whitman only worked as a nurse.
Label: CONTRADICTION