Autobiography in Five Chapters

A poem by Portia Nelson

1) I walk down the street.

    There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

     I fall in.

     I'm lost... I'm hopeless.

     It isn't my fault.

     It takes forever to get out.

2) 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'm in the same place.

     But it isn't my fault.

     It still takes a long time to get out.

3) 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.

4) I walk down the same street.

    There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.

     I walk around it.

5) I walk down another street.