During the Great Depression, Benton worked various odd jobs, enabling him to attend Ohio University, where he graduated in 1934.
Afterwards, he was employed as a social investigator by New York City and then served in the United States Army during World War II.
[3] The American poet and singer Rod McKuen has said that his most romantic poetry was influenced by Benton's two books of poems.
Atlantic Records issued it as the company's first 331⁄3-rpm long-playing album in March 1949, with the poem narrated by John Dall and scored for a 28 piece orchestra and 16 voice chorus.
[7] Other recorded versions of the poems from This Is My Beloved were a 1956 narration by Alfred Ryder with a musical score by Vernon Duke and another in 1962 by Laurence Harvey accompanied by Herbie Mann.