There's A Hole In My Sidewalk

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.

Portia Nelson (1920-2001)