My Bench Experience

 1. The park that I had chosen was my favorite park, Mahon park which is located in North Vancouver, The bench I chose had a great view of the park. I had visited the same bench as one of my classmates, the bench had a view of the soccer field and the kids playground, however, behind the bench was a ton of tall trees and a trail, if you took the trail you would later find a creek. This creek is in its own park, which is named Wagg creek park. The bench is made of wood with armrests made of metal, the wood not at fresh as it once was.

2. When on the bench you have a great look at the soccer field, I personally like this bench because I love watching soccer and usually there are games going on, behind the bench there is a kids playground, and on the right is an outdoor water play area. From the bench, you can see a trail that will bring you to another part of the park. The park is called Wagg creek park, when walking down the trail you are surrounded with beautiful nature, the walk is calming, relaxing, and a great source of exercise. Going back to the bench if you close your eyes you feel the tension in your body slowly go away, you start to pay attention to the sound of things around you, the soothing sound of the wind, the rustling of the trees, etc…

3. If I had a bench dedicated to me I would like it to be in a non-populated area, some trail, beach, a field that is not well known. I would want the spot to be very nature heavy, the spot must be either surrounded by trees, bushes, flowers, or some type of sports field. The reason I would like to have my bench near a field is that I want my inscription plate to include my love of sports. I want my inscription to say “ You are not here with us, but your love of sports will always be ” I only want a bench dedicated to me after my death, I feel like I would not mean as much if someone close to you hadn't passed away.

4. I've had the opportunity to dedicate a bench to someone, I would dedicate it to my parents. The bench would be made out of wood and armrests of metal symbolizing the strength of our relationship. One of the big reasons that I would dedicate the bench to my parents is that if that had the same opportunity they would dedicate the bench to me and my siblings, the bench would be in a spot where it can be seen by everybody, I want the bench to be as clean as possible to do that I would go every week to the bench and clean it and keep it in good condition. Because the bench is being dedicated to a family member some many memories will be remembered when sitting on the bench, I feel like when you sit on the bench, you would feel like the person/people that the bench is dedicated to is there with you even though they might not be. The bench acts as a portal from the real world into the world of memories, it is more than just a place to rest after a jog or a walk. The bench can also have significant meaning to other people that walk by, for example, it can be used as a way to remember other people who had always been at this spot.

5. As usual, when I visit Mahon park I always bring with me a soccer ball, upon my arrival, I noticed that the field is empty, I was excited I had the whole field to myself. Other than the people running around the track I was alone. I had spent around an hour or two waiting for the people using the bench to more while waiting I decided that working on my soccer skills would be a good way to pass time when the people left the bench I packed my things as fast as I could and rushed to the bench. I was tired of playing the whole time that I took a little break on the bench. After the little break, I took out my notebook and started jotting down some notes on what I heard, saw, felt, and thought. After that, I took the trail that takes you to another park, Wagg creek park. I spent a total of 10 mins in Wagg creek park where I admired the beauty of it and its surroundings, after a long day of being in the park I decided it was time to go home.

6. Autumn Is For Love (https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/autumn_is_for_love_944594)

He was on my bench, so I asked, are you watching the ducks? No, he said, I am watching the geese! We both had a big laugh at that, well they do look like ducks, I said. I sat down beside him to have a good look, not at the geese but at this man; this park bench thieves, this impostor. Oh, he was handsome with his dark hair, and pale face, a contrast to the fall leaves; we were quiet for a moment . . . He was on my bench, so I asked, are you watching the ducks? No, he said, I am watching the geese! Then we started talking, talking and talking, I told him I came to the park each day. He was new to the city and asked me questions, and being friendly, I offered to show him around. I talked about my favorite places to go, and he said let's go together; he was easy to talk to and I liked him a lot, we made plans to meet at the bench the next day. He was on my bench, so I asked, are you watching the ducks? No, he said, I am watching the geese! Many days after we met in the park, we watched the leaves falling and collected a few; the air smelled so sweet and I was falling, falling in love with this beautiful man. And I think he loved me too, we liked to walk with the leaves crunching, and even when the rain was coming down. One day he bent down and kissed me. He was on my bench, so I asked, are you watching the ducks? No, he said, I am watching the geese! We fell in love with the rust-colored trees, and the leaf-strewn park and autumnal beauty. My heart and soul ached for his arms, and his breathtaking kisses fell on my lips. Oh I was smitten and lost in the aura of love, so when he bent on one knee and I asked me; will you marry me, I was ablaze like those leaves. Well, of course, I said yes, yes, yes, my darling. He was on my bench, so I asked him, are you watching the ducks? No, he said, I am watching the geese!

When I read this poem I immediately knew that it was perfect for the bench that I had chosen. The main reason I picked this poem is because the bench was the reason why the two characters came together, I think that is what my bench can be used for, my bench is in a perfect spot for something like this to happen like I said I want my bench to have some type of value to it. In the poem, the bench that they met in will always be important to them. At the end of the poem the man she met asks her to marry him she said yes and this will be the spot that their love started. I think that this is a perfect way to show the significance of benches to the people that own them or the people that it is dedicated to.

7. I think that in life you should always take your time and don’t rush yourself, however, life is short so you can’t just cruise through you have to be able to find the best place in life. This also includes finding your significant other, because you have to make sure that they are the right person for you. I think that to truly be in love you have to have the same connection as the couple in the poem, even though they met in an unusual way the spark that they had topped the awkward parts that they had experienced.

8. Parks are public places for people to do sports, meditate, workout, and enjoy nature. This is just a small list of what can be done in parks it all depends on your interests, I think that it is also a way to save some nature from man-made buildings. When a park opens up it has rules, for example, no smoking, you can only play certain sports on the field. Parks also brings the community together since it is a public space, you can always meet new people that you would have never met. I personally love going to parks and being able to play soccer, but as a kid, I always spent hours playing in the playground with my friends and even meeting new kids to hang out with.  

9. The end of our childhood.

The only way back, memories.

Hours of running, jumping, and laughing.

The bench that has always been there for you,

Now gone taking the memories with it.