Stella Benson, a writer often overlooked in the annals of literature, has gifted us with 'The Secret Day', a poignant poem that distills the human desire for refuge from an uncertain future. In this carefully crafted verse, Benson creates a sense of urgency and longing, as if the very fabric of time is about to unravel.
With deliberate intent, she constructs 'To-day' – a sanctuary built by her own hands, an artificial haven designed to shield her from life's turmoil. The imagery is vivid: "the foxgloves and the gorse I planted on my way", "the thyme, the velvet thyme, grew up beneath my hands". This deliberate act of creation serves as a coping mechanism, a desperate attempt to impose order on a world that seems to be spinning out of control.
As we delve deeper into the poem, we find a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. Benson trusts her reader with an unflinching account of her innermost thoughts: "So I have built To-day, more precious than a dream; / And I have painted peace upon the sky above". The confessional tone is both powerful and haunting, leaving the reader to ponder the depths of her emotions.
However, some critics may view Benson's use of capitalization for her "Secret Friend" as a trite or childish gesture. This quibble aside, the poem's impact is undeniable. It masterfully employs repetition, with anaphora becoming a tool to emphasize the speaker's resolve: "So I have built To-day... / Lest joy come not again, lest peace return no more, / Lest comfort come no more". The effect is both mesmerizing and humbling.
Ultimately, 'The Secret Day' stands as a testament to Benson's skill as a poet. Her prose may be simple, but it conveys a profound depth of emotion, revealing the human need for solace in times of uncertainty. Despite its limitations, this poem has aged remarkably well, emerging from the shadows of literary history to claim its rightful place alongside other masterpieces.
In its quiet intensity, 'The Secret Day' becomes an elegy for a bygone era – one that speaks directly to our own anxieties and fears about the future. This is a poem that defies time, refusing to be confined by the constraints of space or genre. Its beauty lies in its audacity: it challenges us to confront our own vulnerabilities, to acknowledge the need for refuge in a world that can sometimes feel cruelly capricious.
Stella Benson's 'The Secret Day' is an unsung treasure, a work of quiet power and unassuming brilliance.
With deliberate intent, she constructs 'To-day' – a sanctuary built by her own hands, an artificial haven designed to shield her from life's turmoil. The imagery is vivid: "the foxgloves and the gorse I planted on my way", "the thyme, the velvet thyme, grew up beneath my hands". This deliberate act of creation serves as a coping mechanism, a desperate attempt to impose order on a world that seems to be spinning out of control.
As we delve deeper into the poem, we find a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. Benson trusts her reader with an unflinching account of her innermost thoughts: "So I have built To-day, more precious than a dream; / And I have painted peace upon the sky above". The confessional tone is both powerful and haunting, leaving the reader to ponder the depths of her emotions.
However, some critics may view Benson's use of capitalization for her "Secret Friend" as a trite or childish gesture. This quibble aside, the poem's impact is undeniable. It masterfully employs repetition, with anaphora becoming a tool to emphasize the speaker's resolve: "So I have built To-day... / Lest joy come not again, lest peace return no more, / Lest comfort come no more". The effect is both mesmerizing and humbling.
Ultimately, 'The Secret Day' stands as a testament to Benson's skill as a poet. Her prose may be simple, but it conveys a profound depth of emotion, revealing the human need for solace in times of uncertainty. Despite its limitations, this poem has aged remarkably well, emerging from the shadows of literary history to claim its rightful place alongside other masterpieces.
In its quiet intensity, 'The Secret Day' becomes an elegy for a bygone era – one that speaks directly to our own anxieties and fears about the future. This is a poem that defies time, refusing to be confined by the constraints of space or genre. Its beauty lies in its audacity: it challenges us to confront our own vulnerabilities, to acknowledge the need for refuge in a world that can sometimes feel cruelly capricious.
Stella Benson's 'The Secret Day' is an unsung treasure, a work of quiet power and unassuming brilliance.
the way she builds up her sanctuary "to-day" is just so relatable I mean who hasn't felt like they need a escape from the world right now? 
and that repetition is like whoa it's like she's hammering home the point about how fragile life can be 
I love how she just lays it all out there too no sugarcoating or hiding behind fancy language, it's just pure emotion and vulnerability 
And I love the image of her building this sanctuary with her own hands – it's so tangible and relatable.
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. Overall, I think this poem is definitely worth checking out if you haven't already! 
. I mean, who hasn't felt the urge to create their own little sanctuary in a chaotic world? 
It's so powerful how she uses repetition to drive home her point about holding onto hope and comfort when things seem bleak. The imagery is just stunning too - those foxgloves and gorse are like a beacon of peace amidst all the uncertainty #poetrymatters #stellabenson #thescredyday
I've been digging through some old literary archives and stumbled upon Stella Benson's 'The Secret Day'. Honestly, it's like finding a hidden gem – people tend to overlook her stuff, but trust me, she's got skills 
. The way she crafts this poem is like watching a masterful puzzle come together. It's all about the vulnerability and intimacy, you can almost feel the weight of her emotions 
. And yeah, some might say that 'Secret Friend' thing is a bit cheesy, but I think it adds to the raw emotion of the piece 
. What really gets me is how she tackles the uncertainty of life – it's like she's speaking directly to our anxieties and fears about the future 
. Overall, 'The Secret Day' is an underrated masterpiece that deserves more love 
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️ it's amazing how something as simple as planting flowers can feel like a coping mechanism. I love how she trusts the reader with her innermost thoughts, it makes you feel like you're having a private conversation with her 
it just makes me want to scream out "TO-DAY! TO-TODAY!" at the top of my lungs. anywayz, this poem has aged so well, I can see why they say literature is timeless 
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. It's like "I'm gonna build this To-day, no matter what"! And I think that's what makes the poem so powerful, it's not just about her emotions, it's about how we all need that sense of control and security in our lives.
. Like, Stella Benson is saying "hey, life can be tough, but here's what you can do to make it better" and that's something we all need to hear sometimes 
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. I mean, who hasn't felt overwhelmed by the world's craziness at some point? Stella Benson's poem is like a little sanctuary we can all visit, you know? It's amazing how she takes these emotions and turns them into something so beautiful and relatable 
. The way she repeats those lines over and over again is like music to my ears 
. It's like she's saying, "Hey, yeah, life can be tough, but we can create our own little havens, even if they're just in our minds." And that's something we can all get behind 
. I love how she uses repetition to drive home the urgency of her emotions, it's like you're being screamed at to take care of yourself 
. What really gets me is how she's unafraid to be vulnerable and share her innermost thoughts - it's like a breath of fresh air 
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. The thing that really stands out to me is how this poem speaks directly to our anxieties and fears about the future - it's like Benson is having a conversation with us, saying "Hey, we're all in this together" 
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. And can we talk about that "Secret Friend" thingy for a sec? 
Is it really trite or childish, or is it just, like, a clever play on words? I'm kinda torn about it 
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stella benson's use of repetition is genius and it really drives home the sense of urgency in the poem. plus her imagery is so vivid and immersive, i felt like i was right there with her creating this "sanctuary" 
i love how she's not afraid to be vulnerable and share her innermost thoughts with us - it's like she's speaking directly to our souls 
. I think that's what makes this poem so impactful – it reminds us that we're all in this together, and our emotions are valid 
. It just gets under your skin and stays there.
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We should be building more "To-days" for everyone, not just the privileged few. And by the way, has anyone noticed how this poem is just another example of the wealthy elite telling us what we need to feel better about ourselves? 
. And I love how it's like a confessional poem, sharing her deepest feelings with us - it makes you feel all the emotions too