the collect call from jail

he hasn't

talked to me in five years,

or to his sisters,

or other brothers,

he told our mother

before she died, that she was

dead to him.

his 95 year old father too.

he thinks he's a character

in Godfather 1,

or was it 2?

but he finds

my number, somehow

from behind

the bars

and dials me

from jail. a collect

call of course.

he needs four grand

to get him out, bail.

crocodile tears ensue.

he says he's sorry.

sorry sorry sorry.

they took my phone, 

the shoelaces

to my shoes,

my belt. my Gucci leather

belt.

i shake my head,

knowing that it's all sham.

he'll be back to who he really is

the second he's free again,

but i get him out

just the same, what's an

older brother to do?