Prose Fancies (Second Series)

In a bustling port city split between glittering merchant streets and the gritty, tar‑smelling docks, a penniless poet and his blue‑eyed beloved carve out a modest sanctuary atop a dilapidated office building. Their tiny room, perched on the seventh floor, becomes a refuge where love and imagination turn shabby walls into a private heaven, complete with muslin curtains, a piano bought on hire‑purchase, and the soft glow of the lover’s smile.

Inside this unlikely haven, evenings echo with music and verses while the din of rum‑filled taverns and the clang of crane‑laden wharves drift below. The poet’s endless stream of words—forty thousand tears, they claim—competes with the riches of kings, offering a different kind of treasure. As they navigate the contrast between their lofty dreams and the harsh reality of the harbor, their bond is tested, hinting at the choices and sacrifices that await.