Poem – Autobiography in five short chapters

Jacquelyn — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 09:28:27 +0000

I was read this poem last week by Helen at Mindfulness MK who was asking us to think about being in ‘Automatic Pilot’. I shared it with my students in class and was asked to post it – so here it is for you.

Autobiography in five short chapters – By Portia Nelson
Chapter One
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 Two
I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
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 Three
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 Four
I walk down the same street
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I walk around it

Chapter Five
I walk down another street.

This Term’s Poem

Website Admin — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:58:20 +0000

Leisure

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty’s glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this is if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.

William Henry Davies

Halcyon Yoga

Poem – Autobiography in five short chapters

This Term’s Poem