De deseo a destino

Back in grade ten, I was told to pretend
I was paying a visit abroad
To a country where Spanish is spoken and write
In a journal. The teacher was awed,

For she hadn’t expected I’d write the whole thing
In such detail, in Spanish, no less.
It was fun to imagine and put into words,
Even though I had worked to excess.

In my research, I’d gotten to wish I were there.
Now my wish will at long last come true:
After nineteen or twenty long years, I’ll be spending
Two weeks in the land of Peru.