Outside Their World

A one-way mirror
stands before me,
keeping me from what
I traveled here to learn.

I can see them although
I am still worlds away.
I hear their words,
incomprehensible, but
never directed towards me.

I crave nothing more than
to know what it’s like
to speak like them,
to live like them,
to be like them.

I reach out my hand
and touch my fingertips to the glass.
I’m so close,
but I can’t seem to break through.

I feel hopeless as it seems
I am always on the outside.
I can only learn so much
from strictly observation.