Autobiography In Five Short Chapters
by Portia Nelson
I
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 me forever to find a way out
II
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
III
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
My eyes are open
I know where I am
It is my fault
I get out immediately
IV
I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it
V
I walk down another street
