Bubbling with joy
and laughter
Someone said,
“I think you’ve had
too much wine.”

Oh honey,
I thought,
It’s not too much wine
It’s too many filters
And tonight I took them off!

Stay in control
Don’t offend
Don’t speak
Don’t overpower

It’s wearisome.

Filters make us:
Shrink
Stupefy
Pretend
Take the back seat.

After a while
one forgets how
to talk at all.
Words stumble out,
but evaporate into
nothingness.

Stay in control
Don’t offend
Don’t speak
Don’t overpower

It’s right
It’s good
It’s loving
It’s kind
It’s godly…

It’s bullshit!

Filters snuff our light –
The one meant to shine.
To dim our light
For another’s sake
Is way outside the line.

Speak
Even if your voice shakes.
Shine
Even when it feels too bright.

Remove the filters and
Take the wheel
Stand taller
Smile bigger
Shine brighter
Laugh louder

Then ever before!