That one Radiohead song

I was either invisible or on display.

A show pony or an afterthought.

I couldn't choose, but even if I could have

I wouldn't.

Being ignored acknowledges your existence,

and then turns to important things

like checkbooks and phone calls and cigarettes.

Being told how to act

invalidates your existence

in order to craft something nice and palatable.

But clever kids know how to make disguises.

Flimsy masks from paper plates with holes

cut out for eyes.

So we can see who is coming and when.

Clever kids know how to build forts with sheets and chairs.

And curl into ourselves with books

and listen for who is coming.

I was a clever kid.

I made beautiful masks. I still wear them.

I created forts in my closet using all my pillows.

I still do.

But I've stopped listening for who is coming.