There is something about poems that transports us into another world. As if, as soon as we see a poem, time stands still, a door opens, and we enter a different
dimension.
Time stands still to be able to hear the truth from the words. Time stands still for us to soak up all the wisdom that has been waiting for us. These words that
dance to the rhythm of our breath, require another space. A sensitivity that is not present in our day to day affairs and a perspective that requires us to
observe ourselves from our balcony.
I wanted to share one of those poems with you today, and invite you to take it in. Word by word, line by line. Each at its own speed.
And after you have read it, ponder the following:
“Chapter One of My Life. I walk down the street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost. I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It still takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two. I walk down the same street. There’s 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. And it still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three. I walk down the same street. There’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I see it 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’s a deep hole in the sidewalk. I walk around it.
Chapter Five. I walk down a different street.”
―Portia Nelson, There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery
References & going deeper:
There’s a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery by Portia Nelson