Does anyone know the poem that reads, " I was walking down the street and fell into a hole"?

Question

It's a recovery poem that talks about learning from our mistakes.

Answer 1

A guy falls into a hole. There’s no way out.
Then a doctor walks by. The guy yells "hey I’m trapped down here can you help me out." The doctor writes a prescription throws it down then walks away.
Then a priest walks by. The guy shouts out again, "Father, I’m trapped down here can you help me." The priest writes him a prayer tosses it down then walks away.
Then a friend walks by. The guy yells, "It’s me can you help me outta here." Then the friend jumps into the hole with him. The guys says "what did you do that for now we’re both stuck in here."
"Yes" the friend said, "but I’ve been here before and I know the way out"

Aaron Sorkin included the story in "Noel", one of the best episodes of The West Wing (that's saying a whole lot). Sorkin himself was (is, i guess) in recovery for drug addiction.

Answer 2

Portia Nelson > Quotes > Quotable Quote
Portia Nelson
“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 am in the same place.
But, it isn't my fault.
It still takes me 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.

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

I walk down another street.”

― Portia Nelson, There's a Hole in My Sidewalk: The Romance of Self-Discovery

Answer 3

Phyllis Gotlieb (1926-)

As I was walking down the street


1as I was walking down the street
2who should I meet but my two feet
3I said how do you do
4what 's new with you?
5they said who do you think you 're talkin to
6we haven't got immortal souls
7we need a retread
8I said
9ha. incomparable wit
10and kept on walking the dogs


11as I was hanging round the sky
12what should turn up but my wall eye
13and I said how does it look
14from that far corner of my eyeball
15through that ******** camera?
16it said
17this trembling image you discard
18this shadow of your other self
19all you despise for its half-sight
20is all you 'll see one day
21I looked it straight in the white
22and I said, better than glass


23while I was wandering in the grass
24among the cities of the dead
25what should I meet but my own head
26bone sockets, nasal cavity
27lower maxillary complete
28I asked the usual
29what 's your advice, hm?
30in a bored voice it said
31the usual: live today
32I says, that 's all you have to say?
33I ask for bread, you give me stones
34it snarled, I 'm tired of chattering
35what do you want from my old bones?
36so much for
37knowing thyself


38I crouched on the shelf of nothingness
39without preamble I said nothing
40without clearing its throat it replied
41nothing.


42I stood on my existential feet
43screwed on my skull tight
44pulled up my flesh to clothe its nakedness
45looked hard at nothingness
46with my shadow eye
47bought some new shoes and went on walking down the street



May not be the right one, but it's worth a shot.

Answer 4

I was a lost sole that got eaten by a mole and then a pole fell on the mole and the mole that the power lines on the pole fryed soon dyed holy moley oh mole.

Answer 5

Yes, I do!
I don't recall it as a poem though.