"I BECOME THE OTHER DREAMERS"

Finding Radical Empathy in the Dark: Walt Whitman's "The Sleepers" 

with Poet & Historian Brad Vogel of Gowanus 

Thursday, April 23rd, 2026 - 6:30 - 8:45 pm (with a brief break) 

Get ready to go beyond classic Whitman poems like "Crossing Brooklyn Ferry" and "O Captain My Captain"! This is a deeper dive into "The Sleepers" - the darker, spookier, complicated flip side of the Whitman coin. Join a small group at Cafe Martin after hours for an intimate, educational look at what has been called the first American surrealist poem. You'll likely leave with a new take on a consequential American poet and one-time Brooklynite after we unpack the poem's controversial evolution. 

We'll devote the full session to reading, analyzing, and contextualizing this overlooked, nocturnal gem that provides a series of challenging, sometimes unsettling vignettes. Is he Jesus? Is she queer? Is this gothic? Is the whole thing a nightmare or a dream? Reading the poem in advance of session is not required but highly encouraged. We'll then look closely at it together, delving into historical context about Whitman, his times, and American culture. We'll scan the poem for things to add to our emotional, imaginative, and civic toolkits, insights of relevance for use in our own dire times. 

Ticketing via @cafemartinbk instagram - limit of 12 spots