"Rituals: 7, 8, Keeps it Straight: An OCD Free Verse

“Rituals: 7, 8, Keeps It Straight: An OCD Free Verse”

By Cody Williams

 

I walked into the bathroom

Flipped the light on and off seven times

Lucky seven as they always said

I walked over to the sink and turned on the water

 

I squirted out seven pumps of hand soap

Not too little, not too much

And scrubbed my hands

I scrubbed them and scrubbed them until I bleed

They bloody and hurt, but they were clean

 

I dried them off wrapping them in a clean white towel

The bleeding stopped and I turned the light on and off eight times

Sevens luck, eight keep everything straight!

 

I walked down the hallway

Always making sure that I ended on my right foot

Right is always tight.

I entered the bedroom.

 

I carefully pulled the covers down

If they got wrinkled, I would have to sleep outside in the yard

I laid down carefully trying not to wrinkle

Good thing I didn’t.

 

I turned off the light, turned it back on and did again for seven total times

Seven or eight keeps it straight.

I laid my head down

I closed my eyes

But I wasn’t asleep

 

I couldn’t fall a sleep

Knowing that the red dots I saw when I closed my eyes

Were more than seven or eight

I laid there in silence before finally seeing seven dots to keep me safe

I drifted off to sleep

 

These are my rituals

Everyday

All the time

I just got to get up in the morning and do it all again

Copyright 2014 by Cody Williams

Courtesy of TTP Entertainment

Author's Note

I'm not a poet. Let me make that perfectly clear. I think that may be evident with this result. But this is something I have had racking around in my brain for sometime now. I hope you all enjoy it...at least a little bit. I'm sure some of you will say something like "Stick to prose! Leave the poetry to the poets."

-CW

Reviews

[Skai Rain]

ReadSwop: I have OCD too so I can relate to this. It's not quite the same kind, but as long as your readers can relate to your work somehow you're all set. I also think it important to note that anyone who takes the time to either speak or write down their thoughts or feelings can be considered a poem. Good job!

[Cody Williams]

Thanks for reading!

-CW