Spoken Word Poetry #2 - Loops

This is the second in a series of poems written to be performed as spoken word poetry. The common theme is mental illness.
This particular poem deals with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Loop, loop, loop.
Loop, loop, loop, loop, l - lo - loop, loop, loop, LOOP!
Loop.
So many loops! Phew!

Nice to meet you!
I'm just stopping here, on my way back from class.
What's that?
Yes, I seem a bit restless, don't I?
It's nothing, I'm always like this.

Wait, are you going to eat that?
Here, have some hand sanitizer.
What do you mean, you don't want it?
Here, take it!
Take it, please! Don't do this!

Wait! Where are you going? Please!
I'm sorry, come back!
Can't you see, it's killing me
When you don't even realize
All the germs getting under your skin
Filling each and every pore
Bad things will happen
The less you take care, and the more
Nonchalant you are, about things like these
Can't you see, I'm worried to death
I'm worr - w - worried, I'm worried, I'm worried
About you

You don't wash your hands,
So many things could go wrong
And before long
You'll be sick,
Please, please, hear me out
Please, please, just listen
Dont do this to me,
I can't take it,
Endless loops,
Going on and on and on and on and on
All the way up to infinity
Unless - !

I pause.
I take a break.
I calm down.
Relax.
Deep breaths, said my yoga teacher.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.

B - b - but
I can't,
I can't,
I can't do this,
No, no, no, calm down, calm down,
Don't panic, it's okay, it's okay, it's - it's - it's okay,
Fine, you'll be fine,
Just don't start again,
Don't start again,
Put it away,
Lock it up,
Deep inside your head,
Don't let the loop out.
Don't let the loop out.

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