Anything Goes When Among Poems, Plays and Essays: Emotional Outcomes Remain the Best of Life’s Games

By Maurice Siegel

Anything Goes is a compilation of my feelings and observations of the world around me by the use of poems, plays, and essays. It expresses my personal views of what is, what should be, and what is wished for to come about.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796038026

Maurice Siegel

After living long enough to suspect everything and enjoy the experiences of people rushing off into every possible direction and also being cynical enough to wonder what’s going on around me, I’m not likely ever to get my sought after answers to the biggest of the thoughts I wonder about. Me and most of humankind, and maybe some animal here or there not as yet understood by us, remain endlessly curious. What remains true, I’m not able to crack open the big answer into any of the unknown we are all staring at. My only destiny, along with centuries of others like me, is to make every attempt to handle the job of being one more of the strange species that have to be perplexed and by writing about it. —Maurice Siegel

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Copyright © 2019 by Maurice Siegel.

ISBN:                Softcover                                978-1-7960-3790-6

                          eBook                                     978-1-7960-3802-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/31/2019

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CONTENTS

FULL LENGTH PLAY Life"s Dreams

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Life Is Madness

POEM Reckoning

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Beast With The Least

POEM The World Knows

POEM Love’s First Moment

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Truth Or The Lie

POEM So Be It

POEM Being Alive

VIEWS FROM A LIFE A Bit Of This And That From Unspoken Thoughts

POEM Answer My Call

POEM Alone Until Death. Arrival Of Christ

POEM What Is Given

POEM When I Was

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Made To Hate

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Train Of Thought

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Second Coming

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Great Void

ESSAY POEM Perfectly Understood

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Observations

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Survival TO The Fittest

PLAY - ONE ACT Did I Meet Up With God?

POEM Beware

POEM Dreams

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Great Battle – Part 2

POEM There Is No Light

POEM Life Questions

VIEWS FROM A LIFE My God! Where Is God?

POEM The Waiting

POEM Meeting Life

POEM A Fly

POEM To Be Alive

POEM Is As Is

VIEWS FROM A LIFE How I Came To Be Me

POEM Alone

POEM Begin Without Sin

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Great Responsibility

POEM The Real World

POEM You Can’t Go Back

POEM The Remembered World

POEM The Grand Mind

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Under The Truth Version 1

POEM Under The Truth Version 2

POEM To LB

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Learning Who We Are. Part 1

POEM A Beautiful Night

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Questions I Must Ask Myself

VIEWS FROM A LIFE If You Only Knew How Special You Are

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Battle For Control. Learning Who We Are. Part 2

SONG Song Of A Duet

POEM The Weeping Wonder

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Six Senses

POEM So Here I Am

POEM Small Child Perfect Dream

POEM Nothing Changes

POEM Forever A Wasted Mind

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Of Warfare

POEM The All To Being

POEM The Wait

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Sensations I Came To Own

POEM A God Is Ready

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Is There Something Wrong With The Human Being?

POEM Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

VIEWS FROM A LIFE Anger Added For All Animal Species

POEM Of Life

VIEWS FROM A LIFE No Animal

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Zone Of Life

POEM A Death Waiting

POEM Before The After

POEM Who Am I?

POEM Keep It Simple

POEM The Legend Of Life

POEM One Small Step

POEM Why Am I?

POEM Four Seasons With Reasons

POEM I’m So Good

POEM Life’s Song

POEM More Than A Question To Rue

POEM Whatever Happened To Friday?

POEM Cosmos And Life

POEM Being Someone At The Great Divide

SHORT STORY The Movie In The Making

POEM What Stalks?

VIEWS FROM A LIFE The Only Two Worlds

POEM A Beginning Of Forever

Books Published By Maurice L. Siegel

VIEWS FROM A LIFE

Essays In Variant Forms Between Life’s arrival

And Death’s Departure

HOPES AND DREAMS TO INFINITY

Quests In The Search Of Love

Twelve One Act Plays

THE WORLD IS VERY ROUND

Six Full Length Plays

THERE IS NO SAFE PLACE NOR EVER CAN BE.

I WONDER WHY.

Seventy Three Poems Of Seventy Three Views

Of One World

POTPOURI

Mixed Bag Of Life.

Memories Possessed Is A Temporary Immortality

Introduction

The following mix of play, poetry and essay is as each entered into my thoughts. In their way, they are closely related in my need to express subjects that jump into mind during a day from my viewpoint of someone who’s mind has had the opportunity to gaze out at a small portion of the world as I have been doing with mine. Yup, it’s a very different view of minds which makes me marvel at how different each one is while living tightly together in a bonding so fiercely needed to be held together that only warfare pulls us apart.

From this came my viewpoint that, with age, has come a world to make no better sense than when I was three and stared at everything perplexed. At that age, the world had been making progress to make sense and life was to be lived to the fullest. As to that strange word, death, I would handle as time permitted.

Most fascinating was a future that came at me in so much haste that I missed most of it as it became remembered complaints and suspected satisfactions, the assumed great time to be alive and called the present. As to having collected wisdom, that came later trying desperately hoping for an understanding of humanity. This was the high point to my clarity for being. It was my struggle to rise above the invisible competition produced out of conflict of almost every idea I was having.

And so I turned to words.

And so now is still my time available to wish people not to mess up this world before I have to say, so far, this world still makes no sense with all the earmarks of a forever universe.

As to my writing, I do apologize for any awkward grammatical constructs that pop up between the words.

Maurice L. Siegel

LIFE"S DREAMS

Play In Ten Scenes

Characters

The Three Fates (Also sisters)

Past is Asty (Also plays Electra)’

Present is Senty (Also plays Clytaemestra)

Future is Tury (Also plays hand maiden)

Director

Bernie (Also plays Orestes) -’

Playwright

Allen (Also plays Agamemnon and Aegisthus)

Time is of the times from the long past, the very present, and for any longer future.

Life"s Dreams

Preamble

Actors, Allan, Bernie, Asty, Senty and Tury lined

up on the stage facing the audience. In costumes

Director and Playwright stand to one side watching.

Some of actors, at different times, wave down to

the audience to have a personal relationship. They,

together, recite in unison or individually, breaking

into a sing-song manner and sometimes pushing at

each other to upstage. A bolt of lightening and

loud thunderous roar is heard on occasion.

(Together) Uh oh. Hear that? So gather round.

This story to tell of a truth rarely found.

Yes, it is also from life’s endless dreaming.

Not just the favored for some happy seeming.

Age old, dreams found hungered in every land.

To compete with of others piled high and grand.

How sparkling the eyes when shut so all dreams felt.

Best is from belief of sacred shapes refusing to melt.

Ready to lead us to die brave by war without a why.

As it was long told of leaders with favorite lie.

Then the years came and wisdom just grew.

(They smile and shake hands with each other)

At last. Wondrous belief was the newly true.

From those huddled together gone many gods of yore.

Until today, lonely, bitter, a god asking what is hell for.

Of the people listened, some took guesses where that is.

While the many stayed calm to watch for a new wiz.

(A pause)

Century by century gone. Guesses piled and made,

Only to have dreaming bloom and into silence fade.

But two some things would not.

(They look at each other, holding up two fingers)

Name each. What, by heaven, oh what?!

Love is one. Everyone now the newest desired.

For delicious feasting with their special acquired.

With the other, ah, a desire to taste what is power.

Held only for the leader with that terrifying glower.

Ah, yes, kings of old by wars did take a toll.

Till another came to seize the bigger goal.

The gods created a common man with a common fate.

Die in battle for power while centuries had common wishes wait.

Then there are actors for all roles with every possible shrug.

Knowing how to step on an annoying bug.

(They point to themselves)

Yes, that of power, the deadly ever gathering more.

Each of ages collects by meaning from victims galore.

Add bitter love to calm that endless rage.

Bought for a price or maybe a try to enter nature’s cage.

As for love, in the then, it was only to own mine.

The once upon a time had very few to dine.

Leaders of then and the et al kept one rigid smile.

Behind solemn sorrows was their most magnificent style.

(Asty, Senty, Tury step forward, bow pointing to themselves)

But it was the Fates, ah, Fates of yore.

Punishing the wrong, often not knowing what for.

(They giggle lightly)

There to be messengers from gods into life.

The Fates of Zeus, each to the adding ever more strife.

(They point) The Director! For any god to mark which way.

(Director merely nods his head)

Uses the Playwright to mark his say.

(Playwright stands, smiles broadly)

Now where were we to tell

Of the nature over the human spell?

(They all bow)

Our story is for everyone.

Born daughter or son.

They play the fools even in sight of glory.

Believing it must be only their story.

(Pointing) Playwright, filled by a kindness to claim.

Director, ah him, so like gods desperate for fame.

(The actors speak to each other one line)

People feel to be best if have lived before.

When, having no power, let dreams free to soar,

And add that dream after death for their weary climb.

Forcing history to dance beyond the edge of time.

(Shrugs and smiles)

Thank goodness we were made from gods who bestow.

Upon the only of animals with desire to know.

No matter what the past, each dream doesn’t have to wait,

It is the now of life, our chance before it must turn to hate.

(All together)

So it comes to this.

Away with the mist!

Love and power is all.

Each drives the other’s fall.

And so without more fuss,

Let’s look closely as if not us.

It is our kindness to keep love alive.

It’s why and how hard we strive.

(All together)

Let it be told.

Cringing and bold.

Scene 1

Asty is weaving a long rope out of differently colored

strands of thread. Sometimes furiously fast. Senty

is examining the rope and curling it into a large box,

sometimes appearing to put the rope to her ear to listen.

Tury occasionally glances into the box and shaking her

head. The room is shadowy and misty along the ground

and shimmering along the walls. Periodic and distant

rumbling of thunder as if in annoyance.

Senty

(Walks away from the box)

Keeps me alert. Always the same call.

Tiresomely praying after their fall.

Gives me back the present time once more.

Otherwise, what was my life for?

Asty

(Sarcastic. To Senty)

For me, what is past has come and stays done.

I keep it neatly collected. For me it’s my fun.

Tury

(Waves off their remarks)

The best they try, complaints nothing new.

And busy from old Zeus leaves us work to do.

(Holding up the rope to her ear again)

How quickly it grows from your ever busy past.

Those sounds of screaming. When comes the last?

Asty

(To Tury. Keeps making new rope)

(Stretching) Don’t know. Tired of your ever sighs,

Will humans discover the future disfavors their lies.

(Tury nods. The three dance together a few steps)

Dreary Senty, with the present all of it yours.

To you, the given pain justifies those what-fors.

(Tury and Asty laugh, slapping hands together)

Tury

(Holds up rope)

These are mortal sounds. Enter only to die away.

Wishing someone to feel what each burst had to say.

Asty

Dearest sister, much too sweet our Tury,

Do ask ever angered Zeus to end the fury.

We the Fates must obey, punish, turn aghast.

Then to the wrongdoers to harm and harass.

Asty

When selfish by intent to such, we are never coy

Dropping upon them anguish in place of joy.

(They high five each other)

Oh, we three have our ways to be in sight.

Do our best work for the gods fearsome might.

Senty

(Bows) To be Sent-y for the present is not always so bad.

Tury

(Bows) As Tur-y, I don’t want the futures to start too sad.

Asty

But for Ast-y, it’s the toughest warning about what is sin.

But I’m lucky as closest to Zeus. I’m busiest of his kin.

(Rumbling of thunder heard. They look up.)

Tury

(To Asty) Always to make it bigger. Zeus is loosing trust.

Senty

The other acolyte gods argue what is to stay a must.

Tury

Have to admit, I do lose ground showing how to win.

Maybe because there is some fun watching sin.

Asty

(To Tury) Not so loud! We adore it so doing this.

Senty

And I do admit, I like watching an illicit kiss.

Three Together

(Exaggerated) Ohhh! But we are the Fates!

We are to punish clowns becoming human greats!

Never to forget we are watching gathered abuse.

Without being the Fates we are of no known use!

Tury puts her hand into the box and pulls out yellow

Dust.

Asty

Hey, be careful with that. Mortal souls I’m told.

Their hopes were to look the same as gold.

They laugh until another rumble of thunder

The Three Together

Always lurking.

Is he shirking?

Thunder keeps us ready.

(They call out above them)

Tell him we are steady!

Asty

I do worry for what keeps piling up on me from the past.

Senty

And I move it through the present much too fast.

Tury

A future waits to enter, so eager of intent to last.

Senty

Stop! What if we could go down there, show how it’s better done.

Asty

(Points down)

There?! Like them but with their past how each life could be wiser won?

Senty and Tury nod.

Senty

Why not. What comes, you are the first.

The past is always seeing the worst.

My present is the least cursed.

Tury

Better me to go upon the Earth

And to show them of my mirth.

Senty gives Tury a poke and a big foolish smile.

Each pushes at the other

Tury

With me they can find comfort with a future never met.

Mine is a best when time hasn’t come by as yet.

They laugh at each other and pointing at each other

but suddenly stop with a burst of lightening and thunder.

They rush back helping with making more of the rope.

A moment then darkness slowly.

Scene 2

Interior of a small theatre. The seats near stage

and the full stage. To the side are three stairs

between the seating area and the stage. Playwright

is seated on a chair at the back of the stage looking

over a script. The three sisters enter from the back

of the seating area and walk down the aisle. They

smile to someone entering behind them. Director

walks down the aisle from behind them, passing them,

and walking up the stairs on to the stage. He hardly

responds to the sisters.

Asty

(To Director) We never would have noticed this theatre

being here that first time when we came for the reading.

We had all the usual tight stomach fear.

Thank you, calling us back from the necessary weeding,

(Quick smile) Am I being too bold?

Be silent I was told.

Bernie enters the theatre, standing behind the sisters.

He waves to the Director and to the Playwright.

Director points to the seats indicating for them to sit

down. They sit and wait. He turns to look down at

the sisters and Bernie.

Director

In this world so close to New York City.

We are never given any of their pity.

(Actors awkwardly laugh)

But I am here to change all the doubt.

You, the chosen, will come to possess a clout.

Yes, and those who pay to sit in those seats, they will be thrilled

As so to be just that is because I have it to be willed!

The sisters and Bernie lightly clap. Senty taps

Asty on her arm.

Senty

(Whispers. Nods) He can accomplish what he says.

Asty

(Whispers) There is a no for every yes.

Director

This theatre is a world all of my own.

Actors to play roles must be intimately sown.

. Senty

(Whispers)For this is only Long Island City.

Should we try to be also witty?

To her sisters Senty winks. Allan enters, sitting

behind the three sisters.

Allan

(Calls out to Director) Got here a little late, sir. Apologize. I’m Allan Allenson.

Playwright hands each a script.

Director

I did like what I had seen of your work from an earlier time.

Anything to tell me about yourself? Dreaming of your climb?

Allan

I have dedicated entirely to an acting life

So far been done without a wife.

(Sisters and playwright laugh)

My mother started my first declaim event.

Never knew if I’m fitted to a god or devil sent.

(Awkward laughter with smiles all around)

I get happy when far from any crime.

Begin my escape to (Points at seats) listeners looking up sublime.

I can be most everyone waiting inside me.

It means, when I say words, I’m finally free.

The sisters clap. Allan takes a bow. Director points

at Bernie.

Bernie

I’m Bernie T. Benjamin. I’m good at what I do.

Director

And that’s it for you?

Bernie

Have I got it, the part? (Director nods) Damn good choice.

For today I’ll be the fool with a raspy voice.

Tomorrow, the very best of a very least.

Of course, by hiding away the beast

(He laughs).

And I’ve played some living with a hex.

Never certain which of us is more complex.

(Some laughter)

It’s the one much too simple

The audience is looking for that ugly pimple.

(Laughter) It’s really worth showing my terrific stuff.

When I become bigger than life famous,

The sisters clap.

Director

Both of you assume, with profession you chose,

Hoping to be pointed out above pain laden woes.

Awaiting that one unforgettable review.

I can do that with my capability but only for a few.

That is, from this world should I so choose.

If you let my determination enter and infuse.

(Holds up the script to everyone)

Never let forgotten this is the new creation.

Of primal life requiring my interpretation.

I promise you, I make most anything to flower.

Yes, from nothing I can build your own living-dream tower.

(Signals for them to come up on the stage. They do.)

At the early audition you did well enough.

All the others had too little of extra stuff.

(To the sisters)

Almost out of money?

(They slowly nod)

Romantic illusion never ends funny.

Actors are selling that same tired standard story.

And so you three sisters seeking your own glory,

(They nod again one after the other)

By getting people into those seats,

Along with their puny dreams as their only feats,

It becomes for you with such hopes, be woven into life.

(A long moment)

It is I must bring to them more of heartless strife.

And have me like you, the one who is great.

Right now you’re my tiresome weight.

Yes, even I do hope to place you at the top.

I will work you hard, my newest crop.

(Points to Asty)

You are Asty? The oldest of the three?

(Asty nods, holds up the scrip. To Playwright)

Three sisters in one play sounds good, I agree.

Tury

I’m Tury. Optimistic me. Tomorrow I can’t wait for.

Allan

(Points) Senty. I lika your name.

Tury

Given by our father. It stuck.

Allan

It may come to bring luck

You are from a large town?

Asty

Everyone walks looking down.

It’s a place to be born. Baltimore.

Bernie

Not that name of unforgettable lore!

Director

(To Asty) You delivered my first smile in much too long.

(To himself) Three sisters, which one fits my ever song?

Playwright

It’s three from Baltimore.

Bernie

We’ll find out what they have in store.

Allan

(Tap dances and sings)

Don’t make fun

Where the sun

Rises big and bold.

Over Baltimore when it’s cold.

Any to wonder where is Baltimore.

Heck! I forgot. Don’t be sore.

Allan takes a bow. Director indicates to stop at

once.

Tury

Please, don’t be angry.

Asty

We do have memories.

Like the springtime breeze.

Senty

Three more to make an escape.

Leaving them all to gape.

Laughter. Director sharply brings his hands together

And stamps his foot.

Director

This is not some playground!

(Points) Not a sound!

Asty

(Apologetic) We are sorry. Keeping hope aglow.

We made it up long ago.

Director

(Sharply) Always behind my schedule for each day.

I waste no time. Measure everything I say!

If you are planning to get larger than dust,

Then listen or leave to watch yourselves rust.

But now, as I said, work as you never did.

I carry the future. Do as I alone bid!

Many I directed

A very few became feted.

(Suddenly slaps his hands together sharply)

I have here the newest, may be creation on its own.

To be worked until it’s there fully grown.

Beginning to end, I want it as I plan.

This time, this place is to see the light.

To come to accept my ever exclusive plight

(He coldly indicates and playwright hands out the scripts)

(To Playwright) I think this bunch you chose will do.

Now be ready for my every cue.

Director pulls over a chair, points to the