9. Poem about my bench experience

On A Park Bench

Hearing and seeing,

everything that goes on around me.

Smelling and touching,

the flowers, bushes and trees.

Wondering and pondering,

about all the people passing by.

What are they thinking,

What are they doing,

Why are they here?

I know what I’m thinking,

I know what I’m doing,

I know why I’m here.

I’m hearing the birds chirp,

and seeing the blooming flowers.

I’m smelling the scented bushes,

and touching the rough bark and the soft grass.

I’m wondering who lives in these houses,

And pondering; what’s the view like from there?

I know the view from here is great

I know why they’re here

It’s no great debate

I know I’m happy here.

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

The purpose of a park is to preserve nature and be able to keep wildlife as part of our modern world. A park is used as an escape from everyday life on the concrete streets of our world. We are allowed to step into a different world that comes from the earth and has not been altered by man. A park can be used for a family trip as a picnic location or for a sporting team it can be used as a location for a game or practice. A park is a wonderful place to meet people that enjoy such wonderful locations just as you do. A place such as a dog park is used to let animals roam free outside of their domestic locations and be free for a while. A park is a place to go when you want to sit and be a part of nature for a while and not have to be affected by the stresses that everyday life brings. My thoughts about parks are that they are wonderful places and there should really be more of them because we are losing touch with the natural side of the world and find it to important to make the world functional and not natural.

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

This poem connects to my personal philosophy of life in a few different ways that dramatically affect me as a person. This poem inspired me because it made me realize how precious our planet really is, we take it for granted and just walk on past it every day but if you are to actually sit down and take a look at it, it’s like a miracle on every corner.

Everything in this world works together to create a whole, and seeing pieces of it comes together in harmony is just beautiful. Some days it seems like life goes by so slowly when really we have such little time on this planet, so we should just sit down and appreciate every little thing that is put into this world. It makes you stop and think about how important our world is and how it is a great impact on our every move.

It makes me think of how every little bit of nature can be observed and seen in many different lights. Also how weather affects the landscapes and it changes the way the world looks and how we look at it. As life seems to go by so slowly I sit here on this bench realizing how fast it really is and I notice all the changes that occur everyday and just simply think to myself, what this world will be like in 20 years. I never realized how our environment affects us, it seems that every part contributes to a better world and when it can be compiled into one poem showing all of these emotions and all of these parts coming together it just connects with me and the way that I see the world very well and effectively. Now after thinking of all that has changed I wonder how many people have sat on this bench. Males, females, children, adults or seniors, races, so many different people, we are such different people but all sitting on this bench for the same reason. A place to sit and enjoy, now no matter what race, age, sex, religion that we belong to we trace back and notice that we are all one and have all enjoyed the view from this bench in this beautiful park.

6. Choose a poem that suits your bench, and explain your choise.

Perfect Scenery-Cloud's end

Here as I sit with network of green to surround,
the Falcon soaring high in the blue sky,
a blanket of dew drops on the fresh green leaves,
shining a perpetual golden brown.

the silence and tranquility of the blissful air,
blueberry flowers on steep slopes of valley,
causing mystical ravines of my heart to flood with
beauty and sizzling
excitement,
the magic touch of heavenly green spreads all over,
there follows a heavy downpour of tropical rain,
macro droplets of water cascade everywhere,
with the grass blades crying out in anticipation to
swallow the rain drops,
clear and transparent, quenching their thirst for
divine blessings,
leaving them submerged in a river of celestial love.

tall pine trees had their drooping branches covered
with white snow,
shielded the valley in heat with their shade and
warmth,
enriching every inch of soil with their overgrown
root,
as golden rays of the sun shine on their leaves,
displaying vivid contrasts of velvety green and satin
yellow,
obscuring my eyes with film of salty tears,
enjoying this lovely rapturous sight,
fulfilling desires lurking in my soul with vibrant
echoes of ravishing
nature.

(c) (r) copyright-2004, by nikhil parekh. all rights reserved.

I chose this poem because it speaks of being surrounded by green and being in silence while sitting in this greenery, which is exactly what I have described in my writings about my bench and how it makes me feel. This poem sums up the feeling I get witting on the bench of being part of nature and not having to deal with society and just being able to concentrate on the world around me and not with the stresses of everyday life in the city.

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

On my short trip to go see my bench of choice I turned and saw the view that I often see from the bench and was instantly moved by its beauty. I believe this bench is in the perfect location, just far enough away from the road so you feel like you’re in nature but not so far into the middle of the park that you feel cut off from the neighbourhood and the people in it. While on my way to the park I see squirrels and birds that remind how beautiful this place really is and how much proximity there is with nature in this neighbourhood that I live in. Once in the park I see kids playing on the playground which reminds me of when I was a young boy racing up the hill to go play on the swings and the slide with my brother in toe and my parents behind us keeping watch and trying to keep us safe from cars and to make sure we don’t hurt ourselves or each other while playing on the playground. After I sit down I start to think about the view and what it means to me, how the man made structures such as peoples house and the bridge in the inlet fit seamlessly into their surroundings and make themselves look like they are part of the natural landscape. I am quite moved by this and don’t want this feeling of enjoyment and being one with nature to stop but the cars going past and the children’s screams of enjoyment snap me out of my thoughts and back to reality. While sitting on the bench I see squirrels chasing each other around  and birds in the trees chirping to each other in there wonderfully beautiful song like voices. After I have sat on the bench for many minutes I have been completely satisfied with my ability to write about what I have seen and return to my home to begin the work ahead.

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

If I was going to dedicate a bench to someone, I would dedicate it to my brother Michael and have it located in front of Rogers Arena where the Vancouver Canucks play. He is a fanatic of the Canucks and never misses a game whether he is at the game or watching it on TV. He cheers just as loud at home watching the TV as when he is at the game yelling along with 18000 other people. On the inscription I would have it say “Michael Van Horne cheer his team along just as faithfully and as loud as he does and never give up on the team.”

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

If I were to have a bench dedicated to myself I would want it to be made of a rich cherry coloured wood and a brushed steal holding it all together. I would want this bench to be located on the front of a cruise ship that cruises the Mediterranean. I have gone on a cruise in the Mediterranean and absolutely loved it, the scenery, the people and the cities themselves. Also I love cruise ships and having people sitting on a bench dedicated to me would make me feel as if I was part of their vacation. On the inscription plate I would want it to say “Jason Van Horne a complete BAU5, think of his love of these cruises and these countries while you sit and relax.”

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

While sitting on this bench I see wonderful scenery in all directions. Facing forward I can see the second narrows bridge or (iron workers memorial bridge) stretching over the inlet and the magnificent Burnaby Mountains in the background. On a clear day I can see Mount Baker in Washington State. In the foreground of this image I am seeing there are many trees lining the streets making somewhat of a corridor to look down onto the ocean.

Looking to my right there is a playground with many young children playing on it, seeing this remind of back when I was a kid playing in this playground. I remember specifically this one time when I fell off of the top of the slide as a very young child and hit my head, that slide is no longer there anymore but I still remember it and that day long ago. There are a large group of bushes on my left there is a large group of blackberry and huckleberry bushes which in the spring and summer are full of rich berries. Seeing those bushes reminds me of back in elementary school when I used to walk through those bushes on my way home from school with my friends through the little path we had found and eat the berries until we feel sick to our stomachs. I feel at ease while sitting on this bench as if the world around me is slowed and everything is calm and pristine.

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

My bench is located in a picturesque location in North Vancouver situated in Michael Park near my house.  This bench is rather old looking as if it is close to falling apart. It is covered in leaves and is wet to the touch due to our recent rain. I have chosen this bench for a number of reasons, one being that it is close to my house and I have seen the view that this bench sees hundreds of times, and I love it every single time. I often have sat on this bench when I am tired walking home or if I just want to sit in quiet and see the view I will go to this spot and sit for long periods of time. This bench seems to be cut out of the trees and set back as if part of them and its surroundings. At first glance you don’t see it but if you look again it will be peeking out of the trees and letting you into a world of serenity and pristine views that are visible from such a location.