I wrote this poem in January of 2025.

my uncleβs death has awakened something in me
and while I think he was mostly good and donβt judge him
Iβm sad he didnβt live his life authentically
Iβm sad he couldnβt bring himself to leave his loveless marriage
Iβm sad he hurt his second wife by cheating on her with the first
Iβm sad that for more than half a century he was deeply in love
with a woman he could never have
I wonder what would have happened if my uncle made it to therapy
and tamed his demons
I wonder if eventually he couldβve found some happiness and love
in his life or perhaps Iβm wrong
and he was content with the mess he was inside














