starfish's Journal

I've been wanting to find a copy of this poem I read several years ago. It was handed out in a group recovery-from-trauma meeting. I tried once before to do a search, but had no luck. But tonight, I found it!!!

So, here it is:

Autobiography In Five Short Chapters


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 a way out.

Chapter 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 cant believe I am in this same place.
But it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… its a habit.
But, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4.

I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5.

I walk down another street.


poem by Portia Nelson from her book “There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery”