When I Have Time

^{translated from the Danish by Sophia Hersi Smith and Jennifer Russell}

The woman upstairs
borrows a cup of flour
to strike up conversation.
She smells of whisky
she’s a widow
her son’s an addict.

Sure I say
while I worry.
He didn’t come
home last night
there’s someone else
I don’t know
whether we’ll split the bills
right away.

Her mouth
is open and wet.
The words fall
onto the floor
I stuff them
back in
without looking at them.

She’s unhappy
age takes its toll
it must be difficult
I say
and give her a gentle push
so the door will close.
Flour sprinkles
onto her faded
housecoat
a thread of blue silk
catches on her nail.

When I
have time
when things
fall into place
when I’ve had
a good night’s sleep
and donated to
Friends of the Elderly and
Save the Children
I’ll check in on
the woman upstairs

who no longer
needs flour
who no longer
makes gravy
and bakes white bread
who needs someone
who is happy
and has plenty of time.