my cousin

is a

low-level dealer

of crack cocaine

in saint louis. 

before that

he was a failed

male model. 

before that

he got paid

by smirnoff ice

to drink their product

in trendy

downtown bars 

and before that

he was home-schooled

by a strict

catholic mother. 

his dad

and my dad

are brothers 

which i never

understood

because uncle steve

showed affection

and humanity. 

growing up

luke was the one

who was supposed to

graduate from

college 

and i was the one

who was supposed to

sell dope or

dig ditches

or as my father

used to

drunkenly joke

at family

reunions: 

that

little fuck-up's

sliding face first

down the

short path

to shit. 
 
 
 
 

  Justin Hyde lives in Iowa where he works with criminals.