Monday, March 16, 2009
(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 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.
— Portia Nelson, “Autobiography in Five Short Chapters” from There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk #
