My Uncle Died Poem by Diana van den Berg

My uncle died.
I am not sure when
nor of what
nor how old he was
though my father
would have been ninety-six
if he had still been alive
and I think my uncle was older.
I found out tonight
that my uncle died.

A second cousin
I hadn’t seen since I was about five
(and now I am sixty-six)
who
some time back
visited South Africa
from Canada,
to where his family emigrated
phoned to say
he would visit me
but didn’t,
emailed me tonight to say
my father’s brother
who lived in Scotland,
died
and he was sorry.

I saw my uncle twice -
once when I was about two
and then again
when I was about four
(and I am still sixty-six)
and I hadn’t heard from him since.

My uncle died
and my second cousin
is sorry
and so am I.
I really am.