Portia Nelson: "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters"

Chapter One

                                   I walk down the street.

                                              There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

                                              I fall in.

                                              I am lost.... I am helpless.

                                                        It isn't my fault.

                                   It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter Two

                                   I walk down the same street.

                                              There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

                                              I pretend I don't see it.

                                              I fall in again.

                                   I can't believe I am in the same place.

                                                       But, it isn't my fault.

                                   It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter Three

                                   I walk down the same street.

                                              There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

                                              I see it is there.

                                              I still fall in ... it's a habit ... but,

                                                       my eyes are open.

                                                       I know where I am.

                                   It is my fault.

                                   I get out immediately.

Chapter Four

                                   I walk down the same street.

                                              There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

                                              I walk around it.

Chapter Five

                                   I walk down another street.

"Autobiography in Five Short Chapters" by Portia Nelson, from There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery. © Atria Books/Beyond Words, 2012.

Image credit: Untitled image by unknown artist, found at this link (originally color).