Awakening

Sepia, black and white,

Nashville, hefe, willo,

Lo-fi, hi-fi,

1977

They all start to look the same

After an hour or two.

Oh wait this one looks good!

Is this a new filter or some sort of trick?

For the effect reads “normal”

 But I can actually see who I am in this pic.

Take away the edit

We are back to square one.

Who knew my eyes were grey

Not a fake blue or green?

And look at all my little freckles

Before completely unseen.

And what’s that there in the background?

Without the filters we can see

The beach, a sailboat, relatives and friends

Things previously obscured by childish vanity.

My smile lines deeper

My lips a little chapped

I’m not wearing makeup

I don’t want to be trapped

By the standards girls hold

For themselves and for others.

I am my own being

I make my own druthers.