Invisibility

You cannot see me, no matter how hard
you look, for you do not wish to see me.
You wish to see me as you like, and not
when it is inconvenient or my need.

You keep your first impression of me like
a mask or veil you wear before your eyes,
and you see me only through that, as you
have always seen me, how you always will.

I am hidden, I am concealed, I am
anonymous, I am obscured, latent;
I am nameless, and inconspicuous,
I am imperceptible mystery.

I do not appear only because there
is no one who wants me to appear there.
If I could hear one voice explicitly
speaking to me, I would reveal myself.

And then everyone would know that I am
no different, no better, no worse, nor
any more of a genius or a fool,
savant, idiot, than any of us.

As of now I hide waiting quietly
for explicit, direct invitation;
these are their most rare when you are wholly
and completely invisible to all.