Autobiography In Five Short Chapters
Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost . . . I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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.
Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter V
I walk down another street.
By Portia Nelson (1977)
Portia Nelson was born as Betty Mae Nelson on 27 May 1920 in Brigham City, Utah, United States of America. She became a singer, a songwriter, an actress, a poet, and a writer. She appeared in live performances in theater; portrayed Sister Berthe in “The Sound of Music” (1965), Sarah in “Doctor Dolittle” (1967), and Mrs. Gurney in “All My Children” (1983 -1991). Her collected poems were published as “There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk” (1977). Portia Nelson passed on at 80 years of age on 6 March 2001 in New York City, New York, United States of America.
Chapter I
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost . . . I am hopeless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter 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.
Chapter 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.
Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter V
I walk down another street.
By Portia Nelson (1977)
Portia Nelson was born as Betty Mae Nelson on 27 May 1920 in Brigham City, Utah, United States of America. She became a singer, a songwriter, an actress, a poet, and a writer. She appeared in live performances in theater; portrayed Sister Berthe in “The Sound of Music” (1965), Sarah in “Doctor Dolittle” (1967), and Mrs. Gurney in “All My Children” (1983 -1991). Her collected poems were published as “There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk” (1977). Portia Nelson passed on at 80 years of age on 6 March 2001 in New York City, New York, United States of America.
