An Autobiography In Five Short Chapters

By Portia Nelson

Chapter 1:
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 the way out.

Chapter 2:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that 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 3:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in.
It’s a habit.
Yet my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5:
I walk down a different street.