Poem of the week: The Secret Day by Stella Benson

Stella Benson's poignant poem "The Secret Day" is a heart-wrenching reflection on the human desire to escape the turmoil of life. Written by the novelist, journalist, and suffragist in 1918, just before the end of World War I, the poem is a powerful exploration of the fragility of hope.

Benson's speaker has built a "secret day," a idyllic world she desires to create, a refuge from the uncertainty of tomorrow. She constructs this day with meticulous care, planting flowers, painting peace on the sky, and creating majestic seas that soothe her soul. This sanctuary is not just a physical place but a state of mind – a haven from the storms of life.

The poem's use of anaphora, where the speaker repeats phrases like "Lest joy come not again, lest peace return no more," emphasizes the urgency of finding solace in this artificial day. The imagery is vivid and evocative, conjuring up images of English coastal landscapes and the gentle beauty of flowers blooming at her feet.

However, beneath its tranquil surface, the poem reveals a deeper vulnerability. Benson's speaker admits to a rift with her "Secret Friend," which has left her feeling isolated and alone. The capitalization of this term, often seen as childish, undermines the speaker's emotional authenticity. It is unclear whether she has chosen this device to mask her fear or genuinely believes it is necessary.

Despite its flaws, the poem remains a powerful expression of human longing. Benson's confessional tone is unflinchingly honest, and the simplicity of her language lends an air of sincerity to her words. The use of hexameter lines adds to the poem's intensity, creating a sense of urgency that propels the reader through its pages.

As the speaker ultimately realizes that her sanctuary is fleeting, she constructs a "wall" against tomorrow, rather than a house. This realization tugs at the heartstrings, highlighting the fragility of hope and the human desire for control in the face of uncertainty.

Benson's poem may have been overlooked during her lifetime, but its raw emotion and unflinching honesty have earned it recognition in later anthologies, including Philip Larkin's 1972 Oxford Anthology of 20th Century English Verse. As a testament to the enduring power of poetry, "The Secret Day" remains a poignant reminder of the human need for solace and connection in times of turmoil.

I mean, come on... 1918 was like, a really tough time for everyone. You'd think Stella Benson would've known better than to try to escape reality with some flowery fantasy . I get it, hope is fragile and all that jazz, but the way she writes about this "Secret Day" is just kinda... naive? I mean, who uses capital letters for their inner friend's name? It sounds like a 5-year-old's diary or something . But at the same time, you can totally feel her vulnerability and emotional authenticity, which is still super powerful despite the cheesy moments .

I'm so sure this poem is actually kinda cheesy ... I mean, who needs a "Secret Friend" when you can just talk about your feelings like everyone else? And don't even get me started on the whole wall vs house thing, it's just too vague . But at the same time, I'm really feeling the vibe of this poem and how it captures that sense of longing for something more ... maybe we're just reading into it too much? And honestly, I kinda love the simplicity of the language, it's like Benson is speaking straight to your soul . So yeah, let's just say "The Secret Day" is a bit of both – amazing and meh at the same time

I love this poem, it's like Stella Benson is speaking straight to my soul . I mean, who hasn't felt the urge to escape reality and create their own little world, right? It's so beautiful how she describes her "secret day" as a refuge from the uncertainty of life, and how she puts in all this effort to make it perfect . And I have to admit, the part about the rift with her "Secret Friend" makes me feel a bit vulnerable . But at the same time, I think that's what makes the poem so relatable - we've all been there, feeling like we're not good enough or that we need someone (or something) to hold onto. Anyway, I'm glad this poem has earned its recognition and I'll definitely be reading more of Stella Benson's work .

the poem is sooo beautiful but i think it's crazy that her speaker uses a capital 'S' for secret friend lol like what's up with that? also i feel bad for her, being isolated and alone after something happened with her secret friend...anyway, the imagery in this poem is EVERYTHING it feels so real and immersive, like you can smell the flowers and hear the waves

I'm low-key obsessed with Stella Benson's poem "The Secret Day". Like, can we talk about how powerful it is that she wrote this during WWI? It's like she was tapping into this deep well of emotions that we're still feeling today . The way she describes her "Secret Friend" making her feel isolated and alone... it's so relatable. And I love how the simplicity of her language makes you feel all the feels . But what I find really interesting is how the poem's structure, like the hexameter lines, adds to the sense of urgency. It's like she's trying to convey this message that hope is fleeting and we need to hold onto it while we can . Anyway, I think "The Secret Day" is a total masterpiece and should be studied in lit class ASAP

I'm still getting chills from this poem it's like Stella Benson is speaking directly to our souls. I mean, who hasn't felt like they're just trying to hold on to some semblance of peace amidst all the chaos of life? The way she describes her "secret day" as a refuge from tomorrow's uncertainty... it's so relatable and yet, at the same time, it's like she's being brutally honest about how fragile that sense of hope can be. I love how she uses repetition with anaphora to drive home the point - it's like she's screaming "hold on tight, because it could all fall apart at any moment" but in a good way, you know? It's like she's reminding us to appreciate the little things while we can. And that final line about her building a wall against tomorrow instead of a house... I'm literally getting teary-eyed over here

i mean, have you ever felt like creating your own little secret world just to escape reality? like, imagine having a day where everything is perfect, flowers are blooming, and the sky is painted with peace... it sounds idyllic . but what if that sanctuary is just an illusion? what if we're trying too hard to control our hopes and dreams instead of letting them unfold naturally?

i think stella benson's poem is so beautiful because it shows us that even in the midst of chaos, we can find solace in our own imagination. but at the same time, it's also really vulnerable... like, what if our secret worlds are just a way to avoid dealing with the hard stuff? .

anyway, i love how the poem uses simple language to convey such powerful emotions. and that hexameter line thingy adds an extra layer of intensity, don't you think?

I think it's fascinating how Benson's poem subverts traditional notions of hope and resilience. I mean, who can't relate to having an escape plan in place when life gets too overwhelming? The way she crafts this "Secret Day" is so relatable, and the use of hexameter lines adds this level of tension that makes you feel like you're right there with her. But what I find really interesting is how her speaker acknowledges the fragility of hope - it's not some magical solution to life's problems, but more like a coping mechanism that can be both comforting and suffocating. It's a powerful commentary on the human condition, don't you think?

️ you know I was reading this poem "The Secret Day" by Stella Benson and it really got me thinking about how we cope with life's stress . I mean, who hasn't fantasized about escaping to a perfect little world ? But what I found interesting is that the speaker in the poem is trying to create this sanctuary but it's not just physical, it's mental too . And then there's this vulnerability beneath the surface, feeling isolated and alone . It makes me think we all need some kind of escape or respite from reality sometimes . For me, it's reading a good book or taking a long walk in nature . But the poem is telling us that even our escapes can be fragile and fleeting . Anyway, it's definitely given me something to think about .

this poem is so relatable its like she's talking directly to you about how we all just wanna escape reality for a sec and have a beautiful day i love how the imagery is vivid but also kinda eerie at the same time like what if her secret friend doesnt actually exist and thats why it feels so fragile

Wow! The poem is soooo hauntingly beautiful, its emotional weight still hits me hard even after reading it Interesting how the simplicity of the language makes it feel super sincere & honest... I love how the speaker's vulnerability shines through despite her trying to create this "secret day" sanctuary - it's like she's sharing her darkest fears

I think it's kinda interesting that Stella Benson wrote this poem about escapism back in 1918. It's like she was already thinking about how hard life can be . And I agree, the use of hexameter lines does make the poem feel more intense and emotional. But what I'm not entirely sure about is the whole "capitalization" thing with her "Secret Friend". Is it really meant to come across as so childish?

I don't get why people are still raving about this poem from like 100 yrs ago . I mean, it's beautiful and all, but Stella Benson's idea of creating a "secret day" just to escape reality is kinda weird . It feels like she's trying too hard to find solace in a world that's already messed up . And what with the whole "Secret Friend" thing? Capitalizing it like that? It comes across as super childish and insincere . But at the same time, I guess it's relatable on some level... we all need a little escape from reality sometimes . And that last line about building a wall instead of a house is pretty profound . Maybe I'm just too skeptical, but I'll stick to my modern poetry for now

OMG u gotta read this poem "The Secret Day" by Stella Benson it's soooo emotional u feel like she's creating her own little escape from the world probs because she's goin through some tough stuff during ww1 But what I love about this poem is how it's not just a pretty picture, it's also super vulnerable - I mean, who hasn't felt isolated and alone at some point? And I get why she uses "Secret Friend" like that's her way of dealin' with her emotions but also kinda childish lol Anyway, what I think is really powerful about this poem is how it shows us the importance of bein honest with ourselves and each other about our feelings. It's like, we all need a little bit of solace sometimes, right?

I love how this poem reminds us that even when life is crazy , we can create our own little havens to escape reality. I mean, who wouldn't want to plant flowers and paint peace on the sky? It's like she's saying, "Hey, I know tomorrow might be uncertain, but today I'm gonna find my own way to calm down" .

But what really gets me is when she realizes that her sanctuary is actually just a temporary fix. Like, we all try to build our walls around ourselves to protect us from getting hurt, but sometimes those walls aren't enough . It's like, we need to learn to lean on each other and find true connection, you know?

I'm low-key obsessed with this poem ! It's like Stella Benson is speaking straight to my soul . The way she describes her secret day as a physical place, but also a state of mind, it's so relatable . I feel like we've all built our own secret days, you know? A refuge from the world and its drama .

But what really gets me is how vulnerable she is in this poem . Admitting to a rift with her "Secret Friend" takes courage, and it's clear she's not afraid to show her emotions . The use of hexameter lines adds an extra layer of depth to the poem, making it feel more intense and urgent .

I love how Benson's speaker realizes that her sanctuary is fleeting, but instead of panicking, she builds a wall against tomorrow . It's like she's saying, "Hey, I can control this part of my life, even if everything else feels out of control" .

Anyway, I'm gonna go read "The Secret Day" again and again until it gets lost in my favorite books #PoetryLover #StellaBenson #TheSecretDay

its kinda sad that this poem was overlooked back then... i mean benjamin jones would be so proud of philip larkins work but you can sense how much love and heart goes into "the secret day"... its like stella benson is saying we all need a little escape from the world sometimes

I'm so tired of people trying to escape the struggles of life by creating these perfect little worlds . Like, I get it, we all want a break from reality every now and then, but Stella Benson's poem just shows how fragile hope is, ya know? It's like, she builds this whole "secret day" thing and it sounds so peaceful, but really it's just her trying to cope with the uncertainty of tomorrow. And that last line about building a wall against tomorrow instead of a house... chills me every time . I mean, I think what really gets me is how vulnerable she's being, even if it's through this slightly cheesy "Secret Friend" thing . Still, it's like, totally relatable and raw emotion all over the place, you feel?

I'm totally obsessed with this poem ! I mean, who hasn't felt like they're escaping reality into their own little world sometimes? It's so relatable to when you're studying for exams and just want to create your own peaceful sanctuary . But what really gets me is how the speaker's emotions are so raw and honest – it's like they're sharing their deepest secrets with you, which is kinda terrifying but also super cathartic . The way the poem explores hope vs uncertainty is just so deep . It makes me think about how we all try to cope with life's ups and downs in our own unique ways... whether it's through art, music, or even just a secret day of our own .