Drum-Taps by Walt Whitman is a poignant collection of poems that captures the raw emotions and experiences of war. Whitman, a nurse during the Civil War, provides readers with a hauntingly vivid portrayal of the brutality and suffering that comes with armed conflict.

The poems in Drum-Taps evoke a sense of patriotism, sacrifice, and loss. Whitman's use of imagery and language is powerful and moving, making the reader feel as if they are right there on the battlefield alongside the soldiers. His poems express the horrors of war, but also the camaraderie and resilience of those who fight in it.

Overall, Drum-Taps is a masterpiece of war poetry that should be read and cherished for its powerful portrayal of the human experience during some of America's darkest days. Whitman's words are both beautiful and haunting, and they serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who have fought for their country.

Book Description:
Drum Taps is the next collection of poems published by Walt Whitman after his famous Leaves of Grass. This collection is a direct response to Whitman's personal observations of the Civil War, many of which come from his volunteer efforts in wartime hospitals. Despite the miseries of war described, Whitman's poems in Drum Taps assert a steady patriotism in favor of Lincoln's war effort. Interestingly, the 1915 edition used for this reading includes an introduction from the Times Literary Supplement which draws analogies between the Civil War and the current throes of World War I, enlisting Whitman posthumously as a supporter of the Allied campaign against Germany.