Freshman

Based off of Portia Nelson's "Autobiography in Five Short Chapters"

I

I swim by a jetty

There is rip current near it.

I get caught in it

I am swept away and helpless

It's not my fault

It takes me an eternity to get out

II

I swim by the same jetty

The rip current is still there.

I pretend I am oblivious to it.

I get caught in it again.

I can't believe I got caught again.

But it's not my fault (how could it be?)

I still take an eternity to get out.

III

I swim by the same jetty.

The rip current is still there.

I see it there clearly.

I still get caught… it's a habit.

I stop struggling.

I know how to get out.

I know it's my fault.

I get out quickly.

IV

I swim by the same jetty.

The rip current is still there.

I get out and walk on the beach.

V

I swim by a buoy.