I had only been in the city for just a week 

But it felt like a year 

As the heat was so intense 

My new Greek friend had written her number on my arm 

But now it was smudged 

And impossible to read   

I knew that she worked in a bookshop 

But there were many bookshops in the city 

My name is Joseph Conrad 

I had been named after the writer 

I wondered if Conrad had ever visited Athens 

Would he had experienced such heat 

Her name was Marion Aurora Barb 

That was all I knew about her 

She was a Greek girl of medium height 

Who spoke perfect English