Wednesday 12 March 2008

Three Word Wednesday LXXVl

3WW
Rest
Sidewalk
Twice

I've not participated in 3WW but seeing the words for today instantly reminded me of Portia Nelson's Autobiography in Five Short Chapters. It's rest time in my life after stumbling down the sidewalk not once, or twice, but a trillion times ... no more!

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.

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.

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.

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

I walk down a DIFFERENT street.

by Portia Nelson. 1920 - 2001

3 Comments:

paisley said...

what a great poem.. isn't it amazing how the simplest of things are so often the most difficult to learn.... thanks for sharing this... i really enjoyed it......

UL said...

such a lovely poem Redness. I loved the medssage it conveys so beautifully.

TC said...

I like the fact that you learned each time and got out more quickly until you were able to avoid it. Growing, learning, life.

Welcome to 3WW! :)

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