Every morning, lunchtime, // afternoon, and evening,
I stand behind the // window watching my neighbors,
my subjects of observation.
I watch them eat, dance, // laugh, and shout,
I witness arguments, // lies, betrayals, and scandals.
I see oppressed adults, // wounded children, dying old,
Lives that seem beautiful, // stories that are suppressed.
I make faces at the children, // then watch them run away in fright,
My heart cannot suppress a grin.
I am the observer's eye,
I always stand behind the window,
Or beneath your balcony high.

I see the fake // flowers by the partition door,
I know now this is the time.
Dust, cracked plastic shoe racks,
Hope and love no // longer protect this family tight.
I linger by the window, // turning my eyes,
Not letting go // of anyone in the room,
My observed world.

At night, children lie in bed, // without parents' kisses,
I watch them, the // pale face shows no expression.
Is it because they haven't been hurt?
Or because they don't // know what life is?
How dare they share this // same beautiful world with us?

I am the observer, // I watch all this happen.
We stand outside the window,
Watching mothers look puzzlingly at their child.
He says he can see us, dear baby,
Who knows, we certainly exist.
We stand in the sunlight, // not in the shadows.
We are neighbors, teachers, // passersby,
Where do you think we truly sit?
We are here, there, everywhere.

We stand in your shadows, // we stand in children's hearts,
You don't need to join, // nor need to accept supervision.
We know, you were born // to belong among us,
Not family, but friends. Not school, // but freedom.
Observers, we'll meet // in the new world together.