Boats

In recent weeks, the U.S. military struck at least three boats from Venezuela allegedly carrying narco-traffickers and drugs that could threaten Americans, President Donald Trump said on Truth Social. The administration has not provided evidence that drugs were on all of those boats.
—Courtney Kube, Gabe Gutierrez, and Katherine Doyle, NBC News

What do I know about boats rudder keel

Starboard and port I know some words for things

Parts and directions it’s true I don’t real-

ly know what those words mean but still the rings

The ropes that hold a sail are threaded through

I think I used to know that word if there’s

A word if they exist and sail sail who

Doesn’t know sail flare guns I think of flares

In boating contexts when I think of boats

Sinking I think of see a soaked man stand-

ing on a capsized hull he’s cold his throat’s

Dry his arm raised a flare gun in his hand

The flare curves rising like a drone-fired missile turning

Back I know someone at a screen will watch him burning

Source: Poetry (June 2026)