Why was the sale of Walt 1st poem unsuccessful?

There seems to be a misunderstanding. Walt Whitman, the famous American poet, never sold his first poem. He published it in a newspaper and then in his first collection of poetry, "Leaves of Grass," which was self-published. It's important to note that Whitman's work was initially met with mixed reactions, with some critics finding it shocking and unconventional. However, his poetry gained significant recognition over time and cemented his legacy as a groundbreaking poet.