Who had a surreal meeting with Walt Whitman in one of his poems?

The correct answer is Allen Ginsberg, who famously had a surreal meeting with Walt Whitman in his poem "A Supermarket in California." In this poem, Ginsberg imagines wandering through a grocery store and encountering the ghost of Whitman, one of the most influential American poets. The meeting represents a profound connection between generations of poets, as Ginsberg reflects on Whitman's themes of individuality, democracy, and the American experience.

Ginsberg’s use of surrealism in their imagined encounter allows him to explore deeper existential questions and societal issues reflective of his time, while also paying homage to a literary giant who inspired him. This poem emphasizes the continuity of poetic tradition and the influence of past poets on contemporary voices, making it a vital element of Ginsberg's work and the Beat movement as a whole. Other poets listed do not have this specific relationship or surreal encounter with Whitman in their works, which helps situate Ginsberg's piece in a unique context within American poetry.