my father's cousin

Almost 30 years had passed
she told me
they had not seen him,
remembered
a tall thin man
thick black hair
heavy mustache

I opened the door to
a stooped thin man
thinning hair
same heavy mustache

They sat talking
of aunts and mothers
buried years ago
and buried just this year

Recalling names
incidents
like the time he moved Aunt Rodh's furniture
her piano
and a cat
that did not want to leave
covered it in a large white sheet
bundled
and he, covered in scratches
got the job done

Remembering my grandfather
a man I had never seen.
I think my father teared then
wiped an eye
looking down into his tea

And phone calls were made
to cousins
seemingly lost
yet living in the same city
reminiscing
as his tea went cold

He hung up,
"I could have talked for hours"
and continued
walking into the past

"I found out from our cousin's son
you are here in Egypt"
he said to my father

"We talk about you all the time.
We remembered you at my mother's funeral"
my father replied

and yet
I have never heard this man's name
mentioned
before.