Crossed Arms

All of us are regular people trying to do our best to make the world a better place in our small capacities. And, being the nice people whom we are, we find it hard to reject others when they make requests. 

Airline personnel always remind us to secure life jackets for ourselves before doing the same for the other members of our families. 

There's good reason for that - if we don't survive ourselves, we can't expect others to do so. Sometimes, saying 'no' and looking after our own needs first benefits everyone more than we think. 

Enjoy these butterfly cinquains. 

Bent arms

So hard to cross

Opens our tired forms

Outstretching our worn hands

To all

Crossed arms

Some practice to fold and unfold

The need to cross certain

For sake of all

Fold firm

Firm arms

Stretch to set space

Arms mark the area

Where all can move around

Crossed in

Steady

Arms crossed yet know

When the long limbs should meet

And when the slim joints should let go

Movement.