There’s just a touch that
tells me if I don’t tighten
the lid on this jar, my taxi
driver today will be a rapist.
There’s just a touch that
tells me if I don’t line up the
TV remote, mobile, two pens
and a coaster perfectly parallel
on the arm of the chair,
my daughter will fail her exams.
There’s just a touch that
tells me if I don’t eat every last
piece of red pepper on my plate,
routine blood tests will
reveal cancer.
There’s justl a touch that
tells me if I don’t rinse my mouth
four times when teeth cleaning,
my dog will be run over.
And there’s just a touch that
tells me if I don’t reach the
foot of the stairs before the
toilet flushes (fat chance),
MS will render me paralysed
by the end of next week.
This is why I don’t point at rainbows.
journeyintopoetry 
Jan 12, 2013 @ 14:12:11
I try and avoid falling under the spell of superstitions, but I’m not always succesful. This lovely poem resonated with me. sometimes anxiety makes us feel threatened at every turn. Luckily it’s often a false alarm
Jan 12, 2013 @ 14:37:28
Thanks Petwr.
Yes, it is cefinitely anxiety that’s behind it becase it’s really quite irrational. I keep promising myself I wont do it but I keep doing it just in case!! It’s not a big problem for me rhough and I can laugh at myself.. I do have someone in my family though, who suffers quite badly with OCD and has had professional help.
Professional footballers seem to fall prey to superstition dont they, always doing strange things before the match so it isnt jinxed! It sounds really daft when I hear of others doing it!!
Christine
Jan 12, 2013 @ 14:12:53
When the weather is cold, I keep a can of WD40 near the front door. If it is there, I probably won’t need it. However, if it is not there, my door and car door locks will be frozen…
Well done Christine!
Jan 12, 2013 @ 14:40:21
Yes Lea! Isn’t that just the way it always seems to go?!
I know you’ve seen this in the book but there are lots of others who haven’t t seen it yet. This may well keep happening! I shall have to keep writing new stuff!
Love
Christine xxxxx
Jan 12, 2013 @ 17:52:04
I can identify with these – the little talismans we create for ourselves in daily life. Like weaving our own spells… they don’t mean anything, but we charm ourselves to hope we can have some tiny control over things. Really nicely put together Christine. x
Jan 12, 2013 @ 18:13:56
Thanks Holly. I realise you have probably already seen this one!
And yes! That is exactly what they are “our own spells”!
I make myself laugh with these but like I said above they arent a huge problem so I dont think I need therapy! Not for this anyway!
Christine
Jan 12, 2013 @ 20:32:48
Hi Christine! I had just read this in your lovely book, so it was somewhat fresh in my mind (my memory is going “wonky”, to use one of your terrific words…I think…let me know if I’ve got that wrong!!). Sending you a big HUG! love, Caddo
Jan 12, 2013 @ 21:07:54
Hi Caddo!
One or two will have seen this one! And yes “wonky” is my word!!
But I’m sure your memory is not wonky at all! If it was you wouldn’t be writing such brilliant poetry. 🙂
Love you “bunches”
Christine xx
Jan 12, 2013 @ 23:41:41
Hi Christine,
This is great! I can certainly relate to it! I have lots of little ocd and superstitious behaviours that I catch myself doing. I’ve even caught myself straightening mats in shops for goodness sakes! Well done! 🙂
Jan 13, 2013 @ 10:35:33
Hi Norma,
Your comment really made me smile because it reminded me that I do exactly what you described! I also find myself straightening the piles of leaflets they often have at the checkouts in supermarkets! Of course it must have something to do with being creative!! Lol
Christine
Jan 13, 2013 @ 23:00:03
Lol so do I! You’re not alone 🙂
Jan 14, 2013 @ 10:47:50
🙂 🙂
Jan 13, 2013 @ 02:21:03
Hi Christine,
I really enjoyed this poem. It’s a reminder for me not be superstitious. I try hard, but think even routines become little rituals that if not done in the right way seem to portend disaster.
For me all my rituals are with art. If I don’t set things up just so, then apprently I can’t paint. LOL.
It’s silly, but underneath your words is a serious reminder, not to limit ourselves, or put ourselves into boxes of constraint.
Thank you for sharing. 🙂
(((Big Warm Hugs)))
With much love
Tikarma
Xxxx
Jan 13, 2013 @ 10:43:00
Hi Tikarma,
Thank you for your lovely comment which made me smile regarding your setting out of things to ensure you can still paint!! A perfect example I can relate to.
I think there is a little of this in a lot of people. And it is harmless enough I guess if it remains at that fairly insignificant level. Its when it takes over a life that it becomes serious and it did just that to a member of my family. Thankfully she has worked hard on it and it has now become mostly manageable. But it can become worse during stressful times. I applaud her for working so hard and deciding to change the way it had grabbed her.
Lots of love and
(((BIG HUGS)))
Christine xxxxx
Jan 13, 2013 @ 11:58:55
Hi Christine,
This makes me smile every time I read it, recognising the syndrome in myself!!!
“Never you David!!”
“Just a little perhaps!!”
So let us not talk about having to rinse all the suds out of the sink after doing the dishes!!! DUH!!
And you realise, of course, that you have introduced a new one!!
How can I ever see a rainbow in the future and point at it?
Much love
David
xxx
Jan 13, 2013 @ 12:44:22
LOL! Yes David, I have seen you do this and, indeed, waited for you very patiently, before we set off somewhere! Patiently because I relate so much! I also remember having to walk back to the door with you after having set off, to check it was locked 🙂
I will leave the rainbow with you! 🙂
Much love to you too
Christine xxx
Jan 13, 2013 @ 14:05:48
Hi Christine, what a wonderful poem about superstition/obsessive behaviour! I’m exactly the same … in future I shall never point at rainbows, either!
Jan 13, 2013 @ 15:59:22
Hi Tom, it’s good to see you here.
It seems there are quite a few of us with these tendencies to some degree or other.
Those smug rainbows are in for a shock! 🙂
Christine
Jan 13, 2013 @ 19:06:17
Love this poem, Christine (I never point at rainbows either) 🙂
Jan 13, 2013 @ 19:12:29
Thanks Martin!
Good to see you, i think there are lots of us who dont point at rainbows! 🙂
Hope you are well. I love Silence Happens 🙂
Chriztine
Jan 13, 2013 @ 19:44:13
Thank you Christine, I’m happy you like my thoughts 🙂
Jan 13, 2013 @ 19:45:26
😊
Jan 14, 2013 @ 00:56:58
Anxiety, irrational anxiety! It could be seen as bargaining with God, or fate, or whatever one believes in. But what a waste of our lives. Just seeing it in words like this so brings it home. What is that saying – something like ‘worrying about something before it happens, is worrying twice’ … and of course, if it never happens, worrying for no reason at all.
I had never actually heard of the superstition about pointing at rainbows before I read your poem. Ah, oh, now I have one more …
I know I have had a touch of OCD, too, and can’t imagine how awful to experience it full blown. I will think of your poem when it tempts me to irrational behavior like that again.
Blessings, and a multitude of love and hugs, Diane XXXOOO ♥♥♥
Jan 14, 2013 @ 10:30:02
Thank you Diane.
Yes I am sure it is a case of bargaining with whoever or whatever! My daughter has suffered very badly with OCD but she is in a place now where she can smile at this poem and at herself. She manages it extremely well now. The problem lay for years in the denial that there was in fact a problem. once ahe arrived at a place where she was ready to confront it, tnen she became free. Just like alcoholism.
The pointing at rainbows is quite new to me too. I saw a TV programme about the Isle of Man and someone was saying how superstitious they were particularly when it came to pointing at rainbows. So hey presto! My poem had a title!
Love and lots of hugs
Christine
Xxxxxx❤
Jan 19, 2013 @ 16:40:28
Dear Chris, lovely poem and there is just a touch that tells me if I find a funky teapot then we will both smile xxxxx
Jan 20, 2013 @ 11:47:44
Jane, I have replied to your comnent already! I have no idea where it has gone! I remember because your comment gave me a big smile.
I would love for us to go somewhere and find a teapot together! There would be more than just smiles!
Lots of love and hugs
Christine
Jan 20, 2013 @ 11:34:23
Hope the writing of this was somehow cathartic – because a lot of what is in this piece resonates with me (though with different events/outcomes.
Enjoyed reading it … more please.
Jan 20, 2013 @ 11:43:28
Thank you very much!
It certainly was cathartic. A moment when I realised how much I do this and it’s so irrational. Not that this is the irst time i have had such a monent! I can laugh at myself bcause it doesn’t actually intrude on my life. But I know serious OCD can be very debilitating.
Thank you for visiting
Christine
Jan 20, 2013 @ 16:46:28
sometimes we have a certain feeling indeed, Christine. My mom always said when you spill some sugar you will get company, well that’s is a myth I found out 🙂
Have a lovely week, my friend.
Love, Francina xoxox
Jan 20, 2013 @ 16:50:21
Thank you Francina!
Your comment made me laugh!! My mother used to say if you crossed knives over each other there would be a fight! Also untrue as I have discovered! 🙂
You have a good week too.
Love and hugs
Christine xxx
Jan 20, 2013 @ 20:04:57
Ah I know this one. Each time I read it I smile. In it I see myself every winter evening getting to the bedroom door, then turning the walker around to go back and ‘make sure’ I’ve turned the heating off.
Love and hugs
Tricia xoxo
Jan 20, 2013 @ 20:38:38
Thank hou Tricia!
It seems there is a touch of this in all of us!
Shall we put it down to being creative?! Lol
Love and hugs
Christine xxxx
Jan 21, 2013 @ 10:12:37
Hello Tricia, that’s me…every night and checking the gas on the hob! I am with Christine on this, it is down to creativty!! Love to you both xxxx
Jan 21, 2013 @ 10:54:01
Ha ha!
Love back to you Jane. And look out for my latest teapot! It it wont be from a junk shop but I have my beady eye on one or two!! /)
Love and hugs xxxx
Jan 21, 2013 @ 10:58:47
Bless Amazon and the internet hey? Big hugs and much love and here’s to a happy day xxxx
Jan 21, 2013 @ 11:00:23
Exactly!! 🙂 happy day to you! The snow is thick here! Xxxxxhugsxxxxx
Jan 21, 2013 @ 11:08:47
Hello Jane and Christine,
It’s almost bedtime in Australia but it’s summer so I don’t need to do the heater checking dance.with my partner the walker.:)
Hugs to you both
Tricia
Jan 21, 2013 @ 11:18:30
Good night Tricia, sleep well and a big hug xx
Jan 21, 2013 @ 11:12:57
Ha ha! Sleep well Tricia. It is thick with snow here! We havent had it like this or quite a few years! Strange to think of you in summer! 🙂 hugs xxx
Feb 03, 2013 @ 15:43:07
This made me laugh. I could use a little laughter right now too.
Feb 03, 2013 @ 15:51:00
Thank you tom, once again for your comnent.
It sounds from what you have said that you are struggling sonewhat. I do think about you and I hope your surgery went well and you are making a good recovery.
Christine.