Sitting on a Story

  Evie Hemming   

  Sitting on a Story blog

    1-4.

       The bench I chose for this Sitting on a Story Blog assignment, is located in Wagg Creek Park. It is a long wooden bench sitting on top of a mossy concrete block that connects to concrete stairs. Directly across from the bench there is a pond with ducks and a platform overlooking it. Surrounding the bench there are bushes and several trees. I chose this bench because when I was in pre-school, I would frequently visit the pond it faces. The bench reminds me of my childhood and makes me nostalgic for life when it was simple. Where I only needed to care about following instructions or deciding what to play. Being there, I felt sentimental towards the naivety of childhood. Thinking back to a time when I was not exposed to the complexities of the world. Instead, the world to me was a peaceful place where nature seemed to be more powerful than people. Park benches allow people to forget about the present and reminisce on the past. That is a reason that people dedicate benches to loved ones. To have a place of comfort and forget about the present moment in tough times. If a bench were dedicated to me, I would like it to be located at a beach facing west so there is a pretty view of sunset each night. For the inscription I would want it to be a message about the positive impact I have made on my friends and family. If I dedicated a bench to someone else, I would either locate it in a flower field, or at a viewpoint. It would be in a flower field if I could find one that is full of their favourite flower. In the inscription plate I would most likely put a quote that sums up the person they are or were. Through the memories that they collect, benches serve as a spot to reflect on our experiences and appreciate the beauty of nature. By picturing a bench dedicated to myself or others, I noticed how a simple seat that people use every day without thought can encourage connection, and memory. In addition, I realized inscriptions don’t just need to be meant for the person they are dedicated to, passersby may be able to relate to the short messages as well. 

    
   5. Journal Response

     On the day I visited Wagg Creek Park, it was sunny with a cool winter breeze. During my trip to the park, I watched a duck swim around the pond, listened to birds chirping, and listened to the trees rustling in the wind. While I listened to the sounds of nature I sat on my chosen bench and reflected on how both the park and North Vancouver have changed over the past 13 years. Although I don’t remember how the bench looked all those years ago, or if it was even there, I do recall how the scenery looked. From what I can remember, the pond contained more water than it does today and there were more trees in the area. Now it seems a lot more lifeless. It being winter right now contributes to the liminal feeling of the area, but the lack of water is most likely a result of global warming. Thinking about how the surroundings of the pond have changed is what led me to think about the differences in North Vancouver now versus back in the early 2010’s. I thought about stores that have now been replaced as well as the buildings that have since been built and other improvements made to the city. I also began to wonder if this pond is as much of a core memory to the people, I went to pre-school with like it is to me. Those things made me realize that we are similar to North Vancouver. Just like the city has evolved over time by gaining more character that makes it unique, other people and I have changed too. The older we have gotten, we have also developed character or personality that has given each of us unique stories. In conclusion, my trip to Wagg Creek Park reminded me that change is important in creating your sense of self. I would like to visit the bench more often so I can ensure that what I said is not forgotten. 

    

   8.  The Purpose of a Park

    The purpose of a park is to be a nice, green space for people to play, socialize, and relax. They are a great place to partake in physical activity or unwind as they are a refreshing setting. People who have close access to parks are more likely to be physically active than people who do not. This is because people are generally lazy and having a nearby park takes away that annoying aspect of having to go a long way to use the amenities parks offer. Apart from being a recreational area, parks are useful in helping the environment. They also reduce air and water pollution through plants, such as trees, which remove toxins from the air and filter rain to cleanse drinking water. These conditions prevent the risks catching sicknesses and overall bettering mental health. Parks provide a place to decrease stress and improve your mental as well as physical wellbeing as a result of the nourishing conditions. 

    

    6-7. "The Lonely Land" and Openness to Growth

    A poem that reminds me most of my bench is “The Lonely Land” by A.J.M. Smith. Out of all the poems I looked at this poem suited my bench the best for a few reasons. Number one being, the imagery of the poem. The imagery of pine trees correlates to the area surrounding my bench, which creates connections to my feelings and the feelings the speaker is expressing. Another reason I chose this poem was because of the first line in stanza two, “A wild duck calls.” This is especially fitting, as the bench faces a duck pond. In a way a duck is a symbol of my childhood through representing my memories from that time.  Thirdly, I chose this poem for its deeper meaning. The poem is about going through challenges and overcoming them, then facing new challenges and the cycle repeating itself like “passionate tones [that] stagger and fall and recover.” With each struggle your strength is broken but you will return to a previous state and keep going. It is important to remember that those challenges are only “lapping water” that will eventually become memories. They will become just another stage in life, like childhood memories. Your growth is the waves of water as you move forward in life. Overall, this poem serves as a reminder that while challenges in life do shape us, they are usually not permanent like waves lapping the shore. 

    “The Lonely land” connects to my personal philosophy of life which is openness to growth. As I mentioned before, this poem is about overcoming challenges. I have dealt with many challenges in my life. Between struggling with schoolwork, to resolving issues with friends, and working through fears. Dealing with every challenge I have faced I have realized keeping a closed mind is never helpful. At the times I have extended my line of thinking, I was able to get passed those states. When overcoming challenges, it is important that you stay open to new ideas. This is because you cannot get past your struggles if you do not welcome personal growth. The idea of being open-minded is having the ability to listen to new perspectives. Which can’t be done if you do not have the awareness that there are many different approaches to situations than your initial one. “The pine trees lean one way,” relates to only having one way of thinking and refusing to change. Later in the poem the wind “bends the tops of the pines.” Wind represents hearing out other perspectives that alter your mindset. The wind portrays adaptability by listening to as well as learning more information, while the bent trees symbolize a change of mindset. Having an open mind also helps with building emotional intelligence. High emotional intelligence improves your social skills by understanding the emotions of others and gives you the ability to offer meaningful advice. The more you expose yourself to positions where you must take into account other people’s ways of thinking the more likely you are to make best decisions you can possibly make. Given the current state of the world this is an essential skill to have. Regarding the presidential election in the United States, the results have proved that never shifting your mindset and continuing to rely on outdated facts can create unreversible problems in the future. In conclusion, openness to growth is beneficial to not just yourself but also the people surrounding you. 

The Lonely Land – A.J.M. Smith 

Cedar and jagged fir 

uplift sharp barbs 

against the gray 

and cloud-piled sky; 

and in the bay 

blown spume and windrift 

and thin, bitter spray 

snap 

at the whirling sky; 

and the pine trees 

lean one way. 

 

A wild duck calls 

to her mate,  

and the ragged 

and passionate tones 

stagger and fall 

and recover, 

and stagger and fall. 

on these stones - 

are lost 

in the lapping of water 

on smooth, flat stones. 

 

This is beauty 

of dissonance, 

this resonance 

of stony strand, 

this smoky cry 

curled over a black pine 

like a broken 

and wind-battered branch 

when the wind 

bends the tops of the pines 

and curdles the sky 

from the north. 

 

This is the beauty 

of strength 

broken by strength 

and still strong.

    9. “Finding Direction” is a ballade poem written by me, depicting my impending high school                  graduation and self-discovery through rhyme.

At first these speeches mean nothing to you, 

when there are so many more years 

until your decision needs to be in glue. 

But your teachers make it seem so near 

which does install in you some fear 

 However, there is no need for distress 

right now, your future doesn’t need to be clear 

In the end you will achieve success. 

Now with the passage of time you have grew 

and it is important that you hear 

the course of action to continue. 

Still, you are unsure of which way to steer. 

Watching your classmates find their career, 

the panic of decision is hard to supress, 

so, you just hope that these talks disappear. 

In the end you will achieve success. 

Finally, you know what to pursue 

which makes the stress feel less severe. 

You have discovered what makes you, you 

and what to you is a fear, 

and what to you is dear. 

Your worry has taken a recess, 

turning completion to cheer. 

In the end you will achieve success. 

Quicker than you thought you got through 

You will continue to progress, 

as graduation comes near 

In the end you will achieve success. 

    My poem tells the story of struggling to figure out what you want to study in university.  In the first stanza it talks about school staff telling you that you need to start thinking about what to do with your future. Although the speeches give the speaker a bit of worry that she needs to decide soon, she does not really care to listen because graduation is not for a few years. The second stanza delves into more of the stress associated with the uncertainty of your future. It is getting closer to the end of high school and the speaker feels pressured to choose their career path. Deadlines are approaching and applications are expected to be started which is making her overwhelmed. Hearing classmates figuring out what they want to do does not help with this. By the third stanza she has a better understanding of her personality and interests. Now she has finally decided what to do and is not scared of the future anymore. This means she can focus on her excitement of new opportunities. When all is said and done, she understands the point in school staff bringing up university so early on. She has realized that the point in it is to make sure that students have accomplished everything required for their futures.