Imaginary Escape

I wish I were a mermaid

I'd swim the ocean blue

frolicking with dolphins

always something new.

If just to escape reality

for once to be at peace

'cause sharks are better than terrorists

and my worries could finally cease.

Living in the world today

with nothing making sense

I think about the good times

as I notice their absence.

It's no longer safe to live

worry and carefree

everything's so serious

no room to grow or be.

That's why I hide alone

away from the outside

because I know that's the one place

that isn't occupied.

So I'll dive into the depths

and explore the fathoms below

on many adventures yet to come

deep breath now here I go.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Underlying

I wonder in the days gone past

how many things have changed

for as often as we blink

the world is rearranged.

One day we are born

one day we shall die

there's peace then there's war

because we don't see eye to eye.

Yet the answer is so simple

right there for all of us to see

the beauty's in our differences

so come enjoy life with me!

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Summer Revelation

I traveled to the beach one day

to swim upon the sea

but climbing rocks was the only thing

that appealed to me.

While high above the world I realized

as I was looking out

one can never know the distance

of a smile or a pout.

I gazed down on the faces

of people gathered on the sand

and noticed one thing for certain

missing from the land.

Happiness seemed imminent

harmony and peace

no one really quite the same

difference increased

but not one among those many

was looking for a fight

kindness ruled that day of wonder

and joy in all its might.

Hope reigned through on that occasion

that one day there will be

no more need for violence

because people are beginning to see.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Giving Up, Giving In

No one sees the tears I'm crying

because no one knows where I hide

to where the waterfall's always flowing

as the river swells inside.

Silently I sit and wait

no one looks past the artificial grin

but if you cared and pried inside

you'd find the vast ocean within.

Where every time that I've been hurt

I have let the build up grow

but I've masked it so long, so well,

so that none of you will ever know.

I've always kept my own inside me

dealt alone never reached out

but now the cascade's overflowing

brimming my eyelids, my lips start to pout.

Suddenly the tears won't stop falling

I've failed for now you see the truth

a silent well of human emotion

sad red eyes to bear the proof.

I don't know what's happening

as I slip further in and out

down a spiral of self hatred

holding the trigger to end my doubt.

Then painfully the tears turn red

the razor's sharp but the pain is gone

then a knife held at my heart

my final breath is slowly drawn.

The pills I swallow one by one

in case the knife fails its task

and I say good-bye to you now

as this creation is now my last.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Oblivion

I need to clear my head and lose myself

just to disappear

in this world I can't exist

my soul is barren, bare.

I no longer feel a part of

but a stand off from the whole

wanting to fade far, far away

to a place where no one knows.

The pain so sharp I'm dying slow

the light they speak of it doesn't show

and in this final moment I know

it's time for me to just let go.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Devastation

I'm falling, spiraling out of control

down the never ending rabbit hole.

A hand up is what I need

shoved back down by hidden greed.

Tried my hardest yet still I failed

left alone to face this torture, everyone else bailed.

I've nothing left to give, everything's been taken

eyes wide open to my brutal reawakening.

You'd think the pain'd be cause enough to cry

but a past used to unfulfillment leaves eyes dry.

The realization of dreams that'll never come to be

of misjudgment, second chances, wasted, by me.

Here I am to face the music of my choices

a screeching cacophony of off-key voices.

Still, no regrets, there has to be a reason

see, yet to come, healing too will have its season.

For now I have to face the darkness

riddled through with hate

I'll turn once again with blind faith

believing in the hands of fate.

Existing in this moment almost to much to bear

all valor's been emptied, leaving stark fear.

This is the end surly it could not get worse

what you'd bill as a gift, I experience its curse.

Never receding, this deepening gloom

wondering, waiting, if hope is to bloom.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Barren

There's no more tears left inside
as pity burns away the lies
misery wallowing in my abandoned core
with no more options to explore
the time has come to fold my hand
on my feet no longer can I land
this hurt it goes way down so deep
into my very blood it seeps
my heart no longer unaffected
has become a burden now infected
blackening slowly, becoming stone
I desert this life to be alone
turning away I expose my back
towards all emotions that now I lack
so now it is I take my leave
into non-existence I thread my weave.
(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Colorless

So long I've traveled with so much lost
deceived by sacrifices not worth their cost.
The battles' fought are left unwon
the allies joined have been undone.
Abandoned have been the reasons for trying
forsaken memories have left me dying.
No knowledge from challenges was to be gained
broken promises now have left me maimed.
A forgotten meaning to searching's become
a worthless loss to overcome.
Of no importance does love remain
a terrible haunting of essence the same.
(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Ignorance

Alone in my head the thoughts still stir
of what it is I'm supposed to be
of where it is I could've possibly come
and through whose eyes in which I see.
I've puzzled much o'er the life I live
wondered what was left to find
if they're still worth searching for,
all the memories left behind.
And then again I ponder still
on what was left for us to learn
from which we grew among each other
yet still we'd watch one another burn.
The teacher's failed, the past's forgotten
we seek for truth that never was
all chance for harmony has been forsaken
but life lives on as it always does.
(c)Mary Irene Cousino

The Wanderer

I see her walking down the road

the path laid out for her

she no longer knows where to turn

as images begin to slur.

And still she walks it faithfully

unknowing where it leads

from dawn through dusk she doesn't stop

does not take time to heed.

So that in her journey's travels

she can take time to preserve

all the lessons come her way

all the blessings undeserved.

But still onward she travels

not fearing which will comes

hoping through tomorrow

for today's unborn sun.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Walking Forward

So onward still I travel

not bothering to look behind

it's time the past must be left

because there's a journey still to find.

The road that I must travel

which presently I walk

changes as the wind doth blow

as waves crash amongst the rocks.

The minds' unconscious choices

deciding fates next steps

leading my endless wandering

along the path unkempt.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Crossed Paths

Stolen was the path

the one I thought was mine

but by my side walked other

who also wished to find

the future of their journeys

the destinations in their minds.

Not knowing where to step

or with which wind to change

shifting in their decisions

as fate is rearranged

and creating all new travels

on roads not yet arranged.

Deep in our lives choices

where true destiny awaits

even as we define ourselves

through all that we debate

we are all still walking

the life that we create.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Release

They tell you to keep your chin up

and smile,

but how are you even supposed to lie

when nothing's worthwhile?

The people you thought who loved you

all playing their little games

and now that you know the truth:

Everything's supposed to stay the same?

It's NOT the world we live in

but the choices people make

destroying all the good things left,

replacing them with hate.

And now with shattered insides

they expect you to pretend

coz in reality no one gives a shit,

just wanting it to end.

They wonder what they could've done

standing around, feigning trying to be brave

not ONE of them acknowledging

THEY put you in that grave.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

The Unforgiven

It's sad, that you would judge me,

a pal you might've had

instead you chose to ridicule

it's really just too bad.

Now you'll never see me

for who I am inside

is someone that you'll never know,

if only you had tried.

What is it that repelled you?

There's many things to choose,

yet for everything that's wrong with me

it you here who will lose.

For what's lacking on the outside

is made up for deep within

in a heart that burns with so much love

you could be there, my almost friend.

It's a shame your eyes seek only

shortcomings by the mile

and your beautiful face be marred

by such an unforgiving smile.

We each go now our separate ways

and you won't spare a glance

as I swallow the tears I've never cried

at another stolen chance.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Eagle Tears

How 'bout that one final stand;

you know, us working together?

Trying to bring peace and unity

back to a nation so severed.

It used to be that we were the ones

people could turn to for hope,

yet now our own kids are starving in the streets

and politics just doesn't want to cope.

There was once we stood proud, and tall

but now we bow our heads, ashamed,

the future isn't looking any brighter

as everyone's trying to pass on the blame.

Now the question as ever remains

where should we continue on from here

once, such a strong people

consumed now, but our own fear.

This nightmare brought on by selfishness

finding ourselves eclipsed by hate

wondering now about dreams forsaken

and praying, maybe one day, it won't be too late.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Tremors

I've written all that I can write

yet I do not choose to end my plight

step by mile my feet will walk

word my letter my pen will talk.

Every thought is worth an inking

every emotion has got me thinking

it is here my battle scars do show

visible only to those who know'

between the lines are meanings deep

into souls it slowly seeps

a life fulfilled both love and pain

fighting for survival grain by gain.

And so I leave for you to guess

how it is I handle stress

and as I leave creation's behind

be sure not just to read line by line.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Backstabber

You and your evilness

rotten to your core

how can they not see the taint

you've left on all before?

The lies spewn forth

by your evil tongue

all the lives you've ruined

and the harmonies you've undone.

How you've not been caught,

don't walk around in shame,

perplexes me the most

just as how you place your blame.

Yet you know what you do

and you know who you are

your cruelty and your hatred

spreading out so far.

SO I can't understand

how with that black mass inside your chest

you can go around pretending to be everybody's friend

while shitting on the rest.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

What's To Come?

There are whispering's that I've stepped into the darkness,

turned my back on all that's light;

when merely I've become a realist,

and decided to embrace the night.

Shadows don't equate to evil

that which shines is not always true

as perspectives are warped by illusion

you need only look inside of you.

The silent battle always raging

the spectrum widens of right and wrong

let your spirit free to guide your choice

listen for the ancient music, hear the sacred song.

Allow moon and stars to restore

lying softly beneath their loving glow

commune with nature all around you

and soon, hopefully, we'll come to know.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Poetry In Verse

Something new is needed

and true it will be raw

so I step up to the board

hoist my pen and draw.

The shapes I make are letters

in stanzas that all rhyme

my muse she beats the harmony

my job to keep the time.

The melody is woven

with gentle careful care

so that within the lyrics

the music you can hear.

No instrument is needed

the song is heard within

so that if you stop or falter

you'll find it once again.

For it will keep playing strong

so that if you forget your part

you'll never have to worry

as it lives inside your heart.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Where Do We Go From Here?

Somewhere in the days that follow

or perhaps in dreams left behind

are the elusive answers to our questions

the lost rhythm and its rhyme.

For you see there is no reason

behind the horrors of today

just boys with their toys

who think it's fun to play.

The battle's never over

and the war is all but won

blinded by our difference

separated we've become.

And now we face the music

the circumstance of hate

we try to deal with consequence

but it was always way too late.

(c)Mary Irene Cousino

Mind Placement

Where do I belong forever,

is there a right place and time,

or will everything fall in together,

with the rhythm and the rhyme?

I often wonder where life might lead,

in that one second which you blink;

if everything around you changed,

leaving you no time to think.

If you were left with one last choice,

where your path might lead;

would you take that chance for granted,

or plant your final seed?

(c) Mary Irene Cousino