Final answer:
Walt Whitman portrays the sea as a living entity using free verse and imagery, uniquely connecting grand themes and common images in his poetry, which appealed through its egalitarian representation of humanity and nature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Walt Whitman's approach to the sea as a 'continuous miracle' in his poetry can be seen in the depiction of the sea as a living entity through his pioneering use of free verse and imagery. Whitman's poetry, including 'Song of Myself', often features common images and wordplay to convey a sense of the universal connectedness between the individual and the world at large. His poetry mingled elements of high and low culture, reflecting the dynamism of a rapidly modernizing America.
The imagery used by Whitman to describe himself and the world often involves nature and humanity coexisting peacefully and dynamically, conveying a sense of egalitarianism and shared existence. For the readers of his time, the absence of traditional rhyme and meter, coupled with content that exalted the everyday and the common man, was initially disorienting and later became a signature of Whitman's enduring appeal.
By connecting grand themes with quotidian details, Whitman positioned his work to be continually relevant, resonating with successive generations through the universal themes of connection and reflection on the human condition, as exemplified by his reflections on the sea.