My uncle and I grew up as brothers
We were raised under the same roof
We shared the same room
We ate the same food
Inseparable.

Then he joined the Navy
And I couldn't see him for months-
Even years- and when he
Came home there was always
Something different.

Last summer I went camping
With him and his kids
I looked at them and saw me
And I looked at myself and saw my uncle
Strange.

Once the clones were asleep
We talked about his kids
He shared stories about the Navy
And we talked about our youth
Being brothers.

Living under the same roof
Sharing the same room
Eating the same food
But we both knew that there was
Something different.

Maybe it was the years that passed
Or the memories that faded
Maybe it was the disappearing youth
Or the kids who resembled me
Strange.

Things were different and strange
But in the end we were still inseparable
We were still brothers.