Almost Somewhere

Quito, Ecuador

by Suzanne Roberts

Armed guards keep out the man selling
sunglasses, a woman, exposing an injured
foot, begging for change. The travelers here
can rest assured, the bullet-proof vests
will keep them from harm. They can exchange
stories—the jungle in Cuyabena, the Galapagos.
Tell each other of good eats—Mexican food
in Ecuador, Thai food in Lima, Peru.
They complain of early morning flights, long bus rides,
the burden of malaria pills.  The television replays
NFL highlights. The guards stand at the entrance
of The Magic Bean, so the travelers,  all of them
almost somewhere, can eat their waffles in peace.