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’s 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.