Cousin Henry and Uncle Nusan, July 1944

Ten year old Henry, in refuge
In New York, with my grandfather,
His mother’s uncle,
Spend July, 1944 at camp, away from the city
Honing a Yiddish he didn’t learn in France.

Uncle Nusan met Henry upon return
To that humid city,
And bundled him onto the IRT
For the trip uptown,
To the bedroom vacated by
The sons who answered country’s call.

The trip was uneventful,
Until Henry, to converse, ask
“How’s the boys?”

Nusan pulled, without comment,
From his wallet,
The telegram, with its terse announcement.

We found later the dates befuddled,
The friendly fire hit my uncle’s unit in July.

Henry made some ten year old
Condoling remarks.
And the two never spoke of it again.

On the occasion of Cousin Henry’s 90th birthday this July, 2024, and my Uncle Gerald, Nusan’s son, 80th yahrzeit, killed in action, France, July, 1944.