Page's poems, "Stories of Snow" and "The Stenographers," the representation of childhood as innocent and free is placed in contrast with the drudgery and harshness of adulthood, illustrating the disillusionment of adult life. Targeting adults to demonstrate the unhappiness that occurs when one allows oneself to fall into monotony and loose the innocence of childhood, Page uses her exposure to different country's and cultures to help develop the imagery within her poems (Page, P. K. (1916-) An Introduction to, 162). Influenced by her childhood in Calgary, often calling it her muse, Page turned to poetry to express her views on childhood and adulthood (Kaleidoscope: Selected Poems, 7). .
Growing up in the early 1900's Page would have observed the restrictions and specific roles placed on women during that era. As a child however, she would not have had to endure these restrictions alluding to the representation of childhood as free. Her parents were free spirits not following the specific roles of that era making everything about Page's childhood unrestricted (Kaleidoscope: Selected Poem, 15). When Page began writing in 1940 women were gaining more freedom but were still hounded by racism and sexism (Smith, 1) (National Women's Museum, 1). As an adult she was constrained by societies prejudices and had to fight for her rights making her long for the freedom to explore as she did in her childhood. .
The strong imagery throughout "The Stenographers," illustrates the freedom of childhood at the same time as demonstrating the drudgery and repetition of adulthood. Immediately the unpleasant image of "the forced march of Monday to Saturday" illustrates the monotony of adulthood (Page, 2). The speaker's life, unlike childhood, has become a forced march that is not enjoyable. Dreaming of the freedom of childhood at work, "they glimpse the smooth hours when they were children" producing an image of one hanging on the memories of their youth to get them through the day (Page, 6).
