English 12

Term Assignment

Sitting on a Story Blog

1. Visit a park, choose a bench, explain your choice, and describe your bench.

On a sunny Sunday my friends and I visited a park, located on west 15^th and Lonsdale, named Mahon Park. While I enjoyed my time playing soccer, and throwing around a football, I noticed a park bench sitting at the top of a little hill. Sitting on this new bench, I noticed that this one particular spot had the view of the whole park; I had decided that this bench had become my bench due to its location and scenery. Compared to many benches that were in this park, my bench was older, it didn’t contain a plaque dedicated to someone, the wood had been discolored, and had more cracks in this one particular bench, then the entire amount of bench’s in the park. It was loProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

ted at the very end of the grass field, were there was a little hill that leads up towards my bench, and it seemed that nobody knew where this bench was, due to the amount of thick and long grass that was located all around my bench. Mostly covered by trees, the only possible view of my bench was out and towards the park. This made my bench and the reason I choose my bench, due to the fact you would only look out at the busy park. Another reason I enjoyed sitting on my bench was the idea that the park contained a large amount of people playing in the park, but while sitting on the bench there’s a feeling that it didn’t really matter how busy the park was, because at the end it was quiet and enchanting.

2. From the bench, describe what you see, what you feel, what you think, what you want.

Children playing, athletes training around the track, dogs barking, female’s sun tanning, and countless numbers of people enjoying the sun, Mahon Park was full during this day and had a feeling that would usually be obtained at the beach. As a thousand people had just walked by, the turf field also contained countless numbers of foot prints that could be noticed at a far distance. Calm and still emotions were easy to feel white sitting on my bench. The quiet area had made my mind calm down, and almost began to become thoughtless with just the ability to stare down at the park. I had found the state I was in while sitting on my bench was extremely relaxing, and if I had closed my eyes, while sleep could have easily been accomplished on my new bench. Unfortunately the first thought that had entered my mind, was the idea that I wouldn’t be able to stay here the entire day because I had to go home and complete my homework. Feeling extremely comfortable and relaxed to a point of sleep, I believe one of my new favorite places had become this bench. This scenery felt like a painting, and could have easily become one. Wanting or needing something was never truly felt in the period of time that I was sitting, and sometimes laying, on my bench, but after sometime had passed water or any typed of liquid was needed due to the intense amount of sun that was beaming down on my restless body. Finally this spot contained a peaceful and soothing state that could have easily been felt while sitting and enjoying the time on my bench. The only question or problem at this time was the fact that I couldn’t understand why nobody had made a specialty plaque for this certain bench.

3. If a bench were dedicated to you, where would you like the bench, and what would you like the inscription plate to say?

A dedication for a bench is very kind, and contains certain love for the special person that it is dedicated towards. If someday a friend or family member decided to dedicate a plaque on a bench for me, I would enjoy the area of the bench to be in a very busy, but pleasant place. Stanley Park or another beautiful downtown park would be a perfect area for my dream bench. Hopefully the inscription would be insightful and warm hearted so when a person would walk by or sit down on the bench they would be able to understand or feel something out of words that are said in the plaque. I believe this amazing gesture should be seen by many people, and in my eyes would be a waste if it was in a very excluded area that nobody would be able to see. Maybe the reason for my bench not having any type of plaque on it would be the fact that it is very secluded and not seen by many who walk past it every day. Choosing the inscription plate for myself is extremely difficult and I wouldn’t be able to give a clear understanding of what I would like someone to put, because the whole point of this plaque is to show others how that certain person felt about you and how you acted towards others. But on the other hand, I would hope that the inscription plate would be kind, inspiring, and well written because it would be shared with many other people that wouldn’t know who I am, or anything about me. In conclusion the inscription would have to be very well thought of and developed because it would be shared with many unknown people, and something on this level would be extremely appreciated and well cared after.

4. If you dedicated a bench, where would you like the bench and what would the inscription say?

As mentioned earlier on, in my opinion, the bench would have to in a busy environment where day to day people would be walking by, or sitting down on the dedicated bench. A busy park downtown, or even a well populated beach, for example Ambleside, would be my choice for a dedicated bench. In my eyes I would need this bench that contains a large amount of feelings to be shared with many people, to help my understanding of why I would dedicate something this important to a special individual. The dedication would be the most difficult part of the doing this event, because this idea would usually but not also follow the death of a loved one. My inscription would be very warm hearted, with as many words as possible I would say the attributes, personality, the amount of love this certain person shared with other people, and the general feeling that I had shared with this individual. I would try to make this statement with a form of a poem, a couple of meaningful quotes, or a small stanza that could put all of these emotions and feelings together. A dedication like this would have to be short, with an understanding that could hopefully be felt by many individuals. Also I would very strong and meaningful words that could help reach out the point that I would be trying to create. This task would be extremely hard and time consuming, but the results of doing something like this would be amazing, and would contain great feelings for myself and others.

5. Write a journal response about your trip to the park.

With the idea that I had an essay to write about a certain bench, I was enjoying my time at Mahon Park playing with my friends and having a good time. When I noticed a little and outplace bench sitting at the top of a little hill, where I instantly knew I would like to choose this bench for my project. As I walked up towards the bench, I had noticed that length of grass has almost doubled, and the amount of weeds has also doubles. My first thought was that this bench had been excluded from the park due to the noticeable amount of cleaning, and taking care of this certain are, or it could have been the simple fact that the larger mowing machines that mowed the park wouldn’t be able to climb this hill with their machinery. When I finally sat down on my bench, the first object I noticed was the large amount of cigarettes placed all around the bench. Then I compared my bench to the many benches that were in this park, my bench was older, it didn’t contain a plaque dedicated to someone, the wood had been discolored, and had more cracks in this one particular bench, then the entire amount of bench’s in the park. Also I had cleared noted the fact that my bench was clearly covered by many tress and little shrubs, that seemed to only give a person who was sitting on the bench a view of the park and nothing else. This scenery was busy but nice due to the large amount of people playing and being in the park. I thought the area would be extremely loud and busy, but all I heard was the sounds of birds, and a dog barking down in the park. The reason I really enjoyed my bench was the fact that it was extremely busy where my eyes could see, but I didn’t hear much noise, and the bench contained a very calm and relaxing state. .I had found the state I was in while sitting on my bench was extremely relaxing, and if I had closed my eyes, sleep could have easily been accomplished on my new bench. Before walking back to my friends, and towards the park I had noticed how calm and relaxed I had become. This new bench of mine had become a favorite place of mine, and I knew this wasn’t the last time I would be on my bench.

6. Choose a poem that suits your bench, and explain your choice. Include a copy of the poem.

I was sitting in the park one summer day,
Taking notice to nature and people around me.
i notice a little boy climbing the monkey bars.
while his mother watched in concern.
But she didn't hold on to him.
She grew a smile as he climbed higher.
I took notice of a couple arguing.
Tears were rolling down her face.
As her boyfriend walked away,
she stood there motionless.
And smiled with her watery eyes.
I watch an elderly couple walking pass me.
They walked with canes and seem crippled.
But they were laughing and and carrying on.
I can't control what is going on around me.
But I can never let that interfere.
From me being happy.

This poem, which I found in the internet, clearly explains the feelings and emotions that I was feeling while sitting on my bench. Watching everybody and everything was natural and didn’t seem to be weird at any moment during the time I was sitting down on my bench. This poet has clearly understand my feelings that where expressed while enjoying my time on my bench. The fact that everything is happening around you, but you notices this events at the same time you are not fully taking in these events, just noticing the facts in front of you with much interpretation.

7. Explain how your poem connects to your personal philosophy of life.

The idea of sitting on a park bench and the idea behind this poem can be easily connected to my personal philosophy of life. At all times in my life people are passing by, friends are in and out, events happen, and something are new to you while others have already happened, but at the end you can’t stress or complicate everything in your life because if you constantly stress that one factor in your life how would you be able to see the other things happening in your life. Just like sitting on a park bench you notice all of these certain events, but they all pass without complete thought and intake on this situations. You might be involved and thinking of a certain sight, but at the end it passes and you cannot think to long due to the fact you must watch everything and understand as much as you can. In conclusion I enjoy watching or doing many things in my life, but everything has its own time and passes sooner or later, stressing one major fact of our life can be time consuming and at the end not be as useful. Life will always continue but you must not let every detail obstruct your life,” But I can never let that interfere/From me being happy.”

8. What is the purpose of a park? What are your thoughts about parks?

I have always believed that the purpose of a park is a place to get away, and to always enjoy the time spent in the park itself. It’s somewhere people go to relax after a stressful day, somewhere where everybody is always aloud to be, and simply a location that everyone can share together. Even thought must parks are located in a busy part of town, or neighborhood being in a park can be extremely enjoyable and relaxing. Nature itself should always be appreciated by humans, and parks have clearly become a place where everyone always wants to go. I have always contained great thought and ideas about parks and the purpose of parks. On a good day, there no were better to be than a park, and the fact that there are so many were everyone can go and enjoy their time makes the fact about parks great.

9. Write a poem reflecting upon your bench experience or your impending high school graduation.

Day to Day

Day to day you count the days left in school

From Monday to Friday

you feel the pain

But know your adventure has begun

with schooling that has been done

for the life you run

Praise yourself with all your accomplishments

Because life has just begun.

1.