Autobiography In Five Chapters
by Portia Nelso

1)  I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost...I am hopeless.
It takes 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'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.