1.
I ventured down to Deep Cove in North Vancouver,
where I came upon a bench overlooking the marina. I chose this bench, out of
three identical benches, as it was situated in such a way that almost a full
180 degree view of the marina was visible. Initially, I just took in the bench
as a whole and noted that it was green and made of metal and two parallel
planks of wood, but then noticed the inscription upon a tiny plate of metal
nailed into the back-rest section. The inscription read, “He lived a life of
great joy, with the heart of a man, and the zest of a boy. We love you, Grandpa.”
2.
From my bench, I can see what mostly consists of
boats parked neatly in their designated dock spots, aery looking mountains, and
the deep blue ocean. The snow tipped mountains seem to be only a swim away, but
I am sure that I’m under-estimating this. The ocean is still as currents do not
flow through this part, but the occasional subtle waves that hit the rocks of
the shore due to the returning of small boats to the dock seem larger than what
they really are because of this stillness. I now realize that I do, in fact,
want a boat for myself. Not anything large or flashy, just something small with
a motor and a rain cover. I then realize that this is unrealistic because even
the smallest of boats cost an arm and a leg these days. I wondered if the
people who wrote the inscription and dedicated this bench to their grandpa used
to come here with him in the summer time, and whether or not they visit here
often. I then think of how awkward it would be if the family who put this bench
here came by and saw me sitting on it.
3.
If I were to have my very own bench dedicated to
me, I would like it to be situated in the most absurd and random of places. The
purpose of this bench being oddly placed is so that, hypothetically, people who
are venturing around in the middle of nowhere without any form of civilization,
will find even the smallest amount of comfort in being able to sit ‘properly’
upon this bench and take in whatever view it is which is visible before them.
On this bench I would like the inscription to state something along the lines
of “Because he always thought of others first- Zavosh Rafie.”
4.
If I were to dedicate a bench and had a choice
as to where I could put it, I would choose to place it in a very
awkward/unexpected location (like the edge of a cliff or facing in the opposite
direction of a beautiful view). The inscription would say, “Don’t think you’re
on the right road because it’s a well-beaten path.”
5.
Journal Entry- My mother was shopping in one of
the artsy stores in Deep Cove and told me to go entertain myself for about a
half an hour because she knew how much I disliked shopping with her. Before
stumbling upon my bench, I did a decent amount of adventuring. The park is
adjacent to where all the stores are located in Deep Cove, so it did not take
me very long to get there. I started out studying the slow running stream and
gauge in which it ran, paying close attention to the various wildlife which
seemed to have made their homes on the rocks beside the stream. There were a
significant amount of hermit crabs running around, collecting what I assumed
was their ‘food’. I also noticed that there was a disappointing amount of
litter scattered amongst the rocks, but did not feel like picking it up because
they looked sketchy. I realize that this was not very ‘environmentally aware’
of me, but I’ll make it up to the environment sometime. I strolled casually
along the winding dirt path through the park where, surprisingly, there were
absolutely no children to be found. I figured, what with the amazing beauty of
the view and the slight burst of occasional sunny weather, this park would be
swamped with mothers and their kids. I guess there was just something off about
Mondays in the park? Anyway, nothing else was all that significant, only the
bench and the outstanding view which lay before it. It almost felt as though I
was the protagonist in an artsy film, staring thoughtfully out at the distance,
and contemplating my next move.
6.
Poem - The Friends of his Youth
(By William Butler Yeats)
Laughter not time destroyed my voice
And put that crack in it,
And when the moon's pot-bellied
I get a laughing fit,
For that old Madge comes down the lane,
A stone upon her breast,
And a cloak wrapped about the stone,
And she can get no rest
With singing hush and hush-a-bye;
She that has been wild
And barren as a breaking wave
Thinks that the stone's a child.
And Peter that had great affairs
And was a pushing man
Shrieks, 'I am King of the Peacocks,'
And perches on a stone;
And then I laugh till tears run down
And the heart thumps at my side,
Remembering that her shriek was love
And that he shrieks from pride.
I chose to focus my choice of poem around
the person for whom the bench was intended. This poem by William Butler Yeats
portrays the essence of an older man as being that of one of joy and humour.
The poet also ensures that the man in the story has a kind of ‘youthful’
portrayal and personality. I saw this poem fit as I like to think that the
‘Grandpa’ for whom this bench was intended, was that of one whom was youthful
at heart, joyful, and full of life.
7.
This poem connects to my personal philosophy of
life as I believe in the notion of only being as old as you allow yourself to
be. The mind is an incredibly powerful thing, and by repeating something to
oneself continuously, one will eventually believe in that something entirely.
Mind changes affect bodily and spiritual changes (for example, the placebo
affect when it comes to headache medication).
To stay young and joyful, one needs to ensure that he/she is
continuously stimulating themselves with an abundance of positivity. There is absolutely no valid reason as to why
people in their old age need to let go of their inner child, but should instead
look at ways to embrace it fully. Embracing it keeps us young, happy, and
healthy.
8.
The purpose of a park is to allow for people of
all ages and genders to take a breather from their immediate lives, to bond
with loved ones, make memories, or just spend a relaxing day in the sun while
having a picnic and watching the kids have fun running around. Ultimately, a
park’s purpose is for relaxation and escape. Personally, I like parks because
they’re just a small dose of nature that I can venture to when I’m sick of all
the roads and buildings. I don’t have a
garden where I live, so a park pretty much serves the purpose of one. I think
parks are both ideal, and necessary, as people likely get extremely
‘cabin-feverish’ when living in areas where nature is scarce. I think everyone
should visit their local park daily, even for an hour, just to breathe and have
a walk around.
9.
My Poem-
“Push and Pull”
Zavosh Rafie
As
I sit and stare
Blankly
over the blankets of blue,
One
would not be able to guess,
That
I am not spaced out
But
focused instead,
On
the immense beauty,
Which
lies across the water,
And
creeps into the clouds.
My
mind drifts
Here
and there
Between
spaces of joy
And
spaces of sorrow
But
never reaching clarity
In
between.
I
want to stay and ponder
About
this foreign icy land
Which
sits ever so quietly
In
the distance
And
out of reach by hand
But
I know the day
Grows
dark
And
in darkness all must end
But
I hope to return
To
gaze once more
Across
the deep blue
To my distant icy land
