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