Apply Filters

Apply Filters

one filter
smooths the wrinkles
another
adds luster
to the dull skin
another
transforms
bewildered
to gorgeous
glistening
anime eyes

inside
so many filters
i'm a different person
i'm prettier 
hence
more confident
as the filters
at a click and tap
wash away
the embarrassing
bags
sags
grooves
and blemishes

i know
what the filters 
make of me
isn't real
i know
the real me
the one
underneath the filters
still
needs
much 
real
improvement

of course
i know
the real me
is that one
that needs improving
but
it gets confusing
so confusing
what the rest of you are
unfiltered

it's confusing
thankfully
confusing
not just for me
but
everyone
that way
we don't feel
so anxious
so foolish
from being so confused
knowing
everyone else
is just
as confused
behind
their filters
too

sometimes 
i recognize
the real
raw me
reflected
on the screen
of the device
that applies
all these filters

i never like
what i see
what i know i am
in the raw reflection
of the screen
since
it never
looks any better
than the raw reflection
from before

i know
that raw reflection
is me
it's what i am
i'm that self-aware
but i don't like it
it keeps
getting worse and worse
with age
thankfully
there's always
another filter
to apply
inside the device
that gave me
the reflection

maybe
i should confront
the raw me
reflected
in the glass
with more than filters
well
maybe
next time

maybe
instead of shaking hands
with the raw me
i should confront it
from time to time
really
get to know it
beyond a handshake
a salutation
and a courteous
smile

maybe
next time
cause for now
the filters
are at my fingertips
giving me confidence
making me feel better
making all of us 
feel better
and the better we feel
obviously
the better we are
regardless
how much 
the feeling
directly
compounds
the delusion
and distance
between
the raw
and the filtered
me