Autobiography In Five Short Chapters

I'm rereading The Tibetan Book Of Living And Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche this week. Just in case. ;-) It is one of those rare books that i am completely convinced everyone must read once in their lives, but realize, sadly enough, that that advice will be ignored by far too many people.

Anyway..... this is a poem that the author quotes in the book:

Autobiography In Five Short Chapters
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 is 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.