Sitting on a Story

 

 

1. My Bench Choice

I chose this bench because I passed by many benches in the park, but this one stood out to me because of the dedication and the decorations left on it. The bench looks new and as if it is still being looked after. It is painted green, and the plaque attached to it is the same colour, placed in the upper middle of the bench. Many decorations were tied to the bench with rope, including real flowers in soft pink, yellow, and blue colours. The flowers looked a few days old, not completely fresh. Besides the flowers, there was a small decoration made of branches with red details and a silver ornament placed on the bench. This showed that someone took time to make the bench important. Because of the decorations, the bench is impossible to ignore, even though its design is simple. The bench sits in a park, surrounded by grass. The ground around it was slightly muddy from the rain and covered with fallen leaves. There are trees around the bench, all different in size, including one large tree that stands out and a few smaller ones nearby. The street is visible from where the bench is placed, and although cars can usually be heard, only a few passed by while I was sitting there. The rain was light and the bench was still wet when I sat down. The park felt quiet, without any sound or movement. I love this park because here, I can pause, forget about everything, and just enjoy the silence. 

 

2. My View From The Bench 

 The sky was pale grey, and the park felt quiet, without any sound or movement. I chose to sit on this bench for a few minutes, partly because my bag was heavy and I wanted to rest, but also because I wanted to observe my surroundings and think. From my seat, I watched two squirrels running up and down the trees as if nothing else in the world mattered to them. Some birds were looking through the grass, and the leaves slowly fell onto the ground, covering the grass. Everything felt calm and it made me slow down. While sitting there, I felt peaceful, but I also found myself thinking about life and how people remember the ones they love. The flowers on the bench reminded me of when I brought flowers to my grandpa’s grave and how special he was to me. Seeing how the flowers were placed and how the bench was decorated showed me how much the people cared. It felt like a kind way to honour someone special. In that moment, I wanted to pause everything and enjoy the quiet. I wanted to remember the people I love. Sitting there, I could stop thinking about the stress of everyday life and just enjoy the small details around me, the squirrels moving and the rain lightly falling on my face. This bench is more than just a place to sit, it’s a quiet way people show how much someone mattered to them, and how small acts like this can mean a lot.

3. Bench Dedicated to Me

 If a bench were dedicated to me, I would want it to be in Rome, Italy, facing the Palace of Justice. I did not choose this place because of what the building represents or what it is used for. When I first saw it, I did not even know what it was. I chose it simply because of how it looked and how it made me feel. The view was peaceful, even though it was in a big city. There were not many people around, and it did not feel like a busy tourist spot. I remember standing there and just looking at the building for a long time. I took so many pictures because I could not stop staring at it. I visited Rome some time ago, but the memory of that place has stayed with me. During that trip, I felt relaxed in a way I usually do not feel in my everyday life. I was not overthinking, and I was not stressed. I was simply living in the moment and letting each day happen. Since then, Rome has become even more important to me because there are now people I care deeply about who live there. Because of that, I know I will visit again, and I like the idea of that bench being there when I return. The inscription plate would say, “It will make sense in time. You’ll figure it out.” I chose this because it is something many people need to hear. To me, it feels calming, just like that place felt to me. The bench would be a place where people could sit and breathe. It would be quiet, not meant to be noticed by everyone, but meaningful to those who stop.  

 

4. Bench I Dedicated to Someone Else

I would dedicate a bench to my mom on Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, one of the most famous streets in the world, where people would stop and notice it every day. My mom is not like other moms I see, she always does what’s right. I’ve watched her help everyone around her, and it’s never because she wants something back. She just does it because she cares, and that’s what makes her special. She’s patient even when people make mistakes, even when situations are hard, she always tries to understand everyone. I’ve noticed how much people trust her advice, and how being around her makes them feel calmer and better about themselves. She always pushes people to grow. When I watch her interact with my friends or even strangers, it’s clear she really cares and listens always. On the inscription plate on the bench it would say, “For my mom who helps everyone without expecting anything back, changes the world around her every day, and shows us how to be kind, strong, and do the right thing. Thank you for everything you did for us.” This bench would be exactly what she wanted, for people to recognize her, remember her, and understand how special she is. Sitting on this bench, people would see her name and know that she made a difference in everyone’s lives. This is her dream, and it would finally become true. 

 

5. Journal Response About the Trip to the Park

Today, I decided to walk home from school instead of taking a car or bus. My friend came with me on my journey to find a bench because she had already missed the bus, so we were walking together through Grand Boulevard Park. As we walked, we saw so many benches, all looking the same, nothing really standing out. But then we came across this one bench, and it was different from the rest. It looked new, and it was full of decorations. There were flowers in pink, yellow, and blue, tied to the bench, along with a small decoration and an ornament. You could tell someone really cared about the person this bench was dedicated to. That’s why I chose to sit there. While I was sitting, my friend took a few pictures of me and then left, so I was alone. I watched two squirrels running up and down the trees, and some birds searching through the grass. Everything felt peaceful. The rain was refreshing on my face, and only a few cars passed by. I thought about life, about how people remember the ones they love, and how small acts like decorating a bench can mean so much. And then, out of nowhere, a bird pooped on me. It was kind of gross, but also hilarious. After a few minutes, I continued walking along the path in the park and saw a beautiful view of the town. I took more pictures, including one of a bird flying. Sitting on that bench today, even for just a little while, reminded me to notice the small things. The journey was very interesting and calming at the same time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Poem Describing my Bench

 

Poem- The Rhythm of Letting Go 

From the river bank we watch the salmon struggle. 

So many eyes trained on the flash, the surge of silver and fin. 

They turn upstream torn and ragged, 

 

hollow-eyed and yellow in the cold November sun. 

On the river’s edge, I kiss you one last time. 

We have come back to knowing we can’t hold each other any more. 

Ardell Polus-Bombay 

 

In the poem “The Rhythm of Letting Go” by Ardell Polus Bombay, the speaker shows what it feels like to let go of someone. The poem begins with the speaker and another person standing by a river, watching salmon struggle to swim upstream. Many people are watching the salmon fight through the cold water, as they “turn upstream torn and ragged, hollow-eyed and yellow in the cold November sun,” looking tired and hurt from swimming upstream. On the river’s edge, the speaker has a final moment with the other person, saying, “I kiss you one last time,” which shows a goodbye. The speaker accepts that the relationship must end when he says, “we can’t hold each other anymore.” The speaker compares the salmon struggling to swim upstream with how hard it is to let go of someone you love. When he says, “so many eyes trained on the flash,” he means that struggling to let people go can be noticed by others, but they might not fully understand how hard it is. When he mentions the salmon “turn upstream torn and ragged,” it’s a way to show how struggles can leave someone tired and hurt. However, in the end, he knows “[they] can’t hold each other any more,” he knows it’s painful but accepts it and understands it must be done. I connected this poem to the bench I was sitting on in Grand Boulevard Park because the way the bench was decorated showed that the person it was dedicated to was very important to someone. The flowers, decorations, and the message on the plaque, “come sit with me, remember when…”, made me feel like this bench was made for someone who had passed away. At the end of the poem, the speaker says, “we can’t hold each other anymore,” which shows that he is saying goodbye and accepting that he can’t hold onto someone forever. The people who made the bench likely had to let go of someone they loved, and the bench became their way of keeping that person’s memory alive.

 

7. How my Poem Connects to my Personal Philosophy of Life

This poem connects to my personal philosophy of life because I believe that letting go is meant to happen. In “The Rhythm of Letting Go,” the speaker and another person “watch the salmon struggle” as it swims upstream. The salmon is described as “torn and ragged, hollow-eyed and yellow in the cold November sun,” showing that salmon is tired, but it keeps moving anyway. I believe this shows how life works, even when letting go hurts, we still have to continue forward. The poem also shows that letting go does not mean giving up but accepting it can’t be forced. At the end of the poem, the speaker admits that “[they] can’t hold each other any more,” which shows that he accepts letting go. This connects to my belief that you cannot force someone to stay in your life if it is not meant to be. I believe that if someone is meant to stay, they will, and if they leave, it was supposed to happen that way. I feel like the river in the poem represents life itself, always moving forward, even when people are not ready. I also believe that there are no wrong choices in life, because every choice teaches us something. Even when we think we made a wrong choice, it still helps us understand ourselves better. This shows me that even when letting go is hard, trusting that things happen for a reason helps me accept it. 

 

8. The Purpose and my Thoughts About Parks

 Parks exist to give people a place to slow down and take a break from their busy lives. They can be used for many different purposes, such as resting, being active, or simply thinking in peace. Because parks are usually surrounded by trees and nature, they create an environment that feels different from the city. They give everyone access to quiet space, even in places where life feels rushed. I believe parks are for everyone, no matter their age or reason for being there. They are spaces where people can walk, sit, think, or just exist without pressure. Personally, I do not go to parks very often, but whenever I do end up in one, I always enjoy it. Being in a park makes me feel relaxed because it is usually quiet and surrounded by nature. Instead of feeling rushed, I am able to slow down and observe everything around me. I notice the trees, the animals, the benches. Parks help me take a break from my thoughts and worries because I usually go alone. When I am by myself, there is no one around to stress me or remind me of things I should be worried about. I feel free to think about whatever I want. I prefer parks that are quiet and mostly empty because they allow me to fully relax. Overall, parks make me feel more connected to myself because they give me the chance to sit in silence and be with my own thoughts. 

9. Poem Reflecting upon my Bench Experience 

Moving on 

 

We sit together at that old bench. 

Snow rests on the ground, while the wind passes by. 

The flowers are bound to the bench with a thin string, 

an unforgettable memory of Sundays we once shared. 

 

Time never lasts with the ones we love. 

We always knew it wouldn’t last forever. 

Life is like the wind, always moving, never still. 

I realized I had to let you go when I saw the ambulance. 

 

The park is still here, waiting for us again, 

and every Sunday I sit alone on that bench. 

But you are here with me, I can feel your presence in the wind.