the long boat

your friend lives
on a boat.
a sail
boat. narrow and long.
the cabin
is small. he hits
his head
on the rafters,
bending
over
all day to go
from side to side,
front to back.
it wobbles in
the harbor, swaying
to the waves and wash
of other boats
as they go by.
he knows
his ship terminology,
fore and aft,
bow and stern.
the main sail,
the jib.
the anchor.
he has a sextant
too.
let me go down
to the galley he
says and make you
a sandwich,
or the head is
over there if you
have to go.
he doesn't take it
out much,
with gas prices
being what they are,
but he likes
telling everyone
that he lives
on his boat.
he carries a picture
in his wallet
of his boat
when he took it
under the bay bridge,
there are photos in
his phone too.
the boat is his girlfriend.
he wants you to come
out and spend a weekend.
plenty of room
he says, sleeps five.
come on, it'll be fun.