Robert Frost and the Penguin

sometimes i feel just like a gerbil running around and around on his wheel!
am i accomplishing anything with my life???!!!
im moving yes, but lets be honest im not going anywhere.
im becoming more like the mindless gerbil. blind or numb to the world beyond my day to day.

everyday its the same thing. alarm goes off. get up. get ready. walk dog. drive to work. sit at desk. proofread reports. go to water cooler. submit reports. use restroom. microwave lunch. pretend to be busy. go home. walk dog. make dinner. watch news. refill dog bowl. walk dog. go to bed. hit repeat. repeat. repeat. repeat. repeat.this cd has been played way too much. its worn out and covered in scratches. before long its going to start to skip. get up. get ready.  walk dog. drive to work. sit at  desk. proofread reports. go to water cooler. use restroom. microwave lunch. pretend to be busy. go home. walk dog. make dinner. watch news. walk dog. go to bed. hit repeat. get up. walk dog to work. sit at desk. pretend to be busy. walk dog to bed. get up. got to bed. get up. go to bed. repeat. repeat. repeat. repeat. repeat. ggggggeeeeettttt upppppppp--suddenly! my dulled senses start returning. i realize there's dog poop all over the place the dogs asleep in the empty bag of dog food, i don't smell so hot myself  most likely i've lost my job and im more than a little hungry. clean myself up feed the poor peta case and clean him and the place up as well. rents due. no money coming in. landlords gonna have to wait. i've got a stack full of blank cds.its time to take a new look at the world.i go for a walk. i real walk. not a predetermined path for animal bowel movements.a lets just see where my feet take me walk.i walk through a wooded  path. ive taken this path before it leads to a fork one way leads down a road i can walk in my sleep. the other? i've passed by millions of times, never thought much about it and now i find myself stumbling across its not so smooth terrain.time passes thoughts whirl and whirl. i shouldnt have said those things.whats the point? you cant win. i should do more. i could've tried harder. i cant believe i lost it. am i lost? does it matter? my self indulgent pity party is interrupted by the sound of music.carousel music to be precise.i think i must be imaging things.i keep walking. the music grows louder and louder.i freeze in fear until curiosity overtakes me. what choice do i have really? i have no idea where i am now.
 
the music is almost deafening and then i spot it. shinning in the sunlight this vibrant perfect carousel
.there were all the animals you could ever imagine it was the most beautiful thing i've ever seen in my entire life. why it was there never crossed my mind. i just knew i wanted to ride it. no not wanted. needed. i felt like i was ten again weightless and carefree i took off running full speed straight to it! then without a hint of warning a gentleman appeared in my path calling me to a halt. i call him a gentleman because of his attire his demeanor was less than gentlemen like he was dressed in a very formal tuxedo complete with tailcoats and spats he looked as though he'd just walked  out of a painting of some party in the 1920s and appeared somewhat annoyed. his sudden appearance startled me but he didnt appear to be surprised to see me. i managed to stutter out something that might have resembled "youwhoare?" he sighed heavily rolled his eyes and said"turn around and leave." i gave him a confused look he repeated himself louder and more forcefully. i looked at him and then the beautiful carousel.the overwhelming need to ride it spiked up again before i could take open my mouth to speak he sighed heavily again muttered something inaudible under his breath and gave me what must have been the most redundant line of his life his tone was impatient and dry" i am the operator. you may ride the carousel.if you  must but be warned once you get on you can never get off. the ride stops for no one. no matter how much you beg and plead, the ride will not stop until its time." he disappeared almost as soon as the words left his lips. where'd  he go? who was he? and why was he so insistent on me leaving? i caught a glimpse of my reflection in the carousel and stared at it until it didnt look real anymore i wasnt staring at myself i was staring into nothing my thoughts drifting. i dont have any of the  answers. i didnt before i got here. i may never have them. and this carousel is so lovely... i have to ride it! i dont care about that stupid operator! i ran towards it again and no one stopped me. i got on chose a beautiful white stallion with golden hair and the ride began. i felt the purest of joys spreading throughout my whole being! from my horse i could see all the animals more clearly some of them appeared to be wearing clothing there was a cat with a straw hat and sundress, a  monkey in cut off blue jeans and a red striped tank top and i noticed a penguin wearing spats that i hadn't seen earlier it gave me a smug grin and mouthed
"i told you so."