The Glass Box

In a glass box

sat a boy and a girl

all they could see was the entire world

but as the world looked in, all the world saw was themselves

for this glass box was made of one way mirror

People would come from all over

to look at themselves in the mirror

and a young woman came, knowingly beautiful

she complimented the reflection, flattering herself

and the girl saw the selfishness, and the boy saw the pride

and they wanted to help her but all they could do was watch

and an old man came, tears in his eyes

he cursed the reflection, regretting his decisions

and the girl saw the pain, and the boy saw the guilt

and they wanted to help him but all they could do was watch

and a teenage boy came, filled with anger

he punched the reflection, hating what he'd become

and the girl saw the violence and the boy saw the agony

and they wanted to help him but all they could do was watch

and a middle aged woman came, alcohol in hand

she stared at the reflection, confused who it was

and the girl saw the mistakes, and the boy saw the helplessness

and they wanted to help her but all they could do was watch

and a couple came, happy and carefree

and they smiled at the reflections, living a perfect life

and the girl saw the lies and the boy saw the lies

and they couldn't watch anymore

and the glass box shattered

at the thought that something beautiful could ever be true

and the boy and the girl sat alone

there was nobody else

and that one way mirror went two ways

and all those emotions they saw were their own reflections

and they looked at the broken mirror, with realization

and the girl saw the broken boy and the boy saw the broken girl

and they wanted to help but all they could do was watch

(M.F)