Autobiography in five short chapters
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 me forever to find a way 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 am 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.
– poem by Portia Nelson
When I first saw this poem today,
First chapter I smile at his bad luck.
Second chapter I am amuse by how silly he is.
Third chapter I realised he is me.
Fourth chapter I was shock by my earlier amusement of my silliness.
Fifth chapter I contemplate on my habitual patterns in life.
What an awakening.