In The Shape Of A Key Poem by Mark Heathcote

'I see a desert island in the shape of a key
And a small boat with a leaking hull adrift
It anchored inshore; it became, liken a door.'

This island, for now, is a perfect, fitting key
Where two, are flung, together to explore—
One washed ashore, has survived by thrift,

The other - alone mermaid from the seafloor
Has arrived out of curiosity? Moving wormy -
Slivering to meet this seafarer, whose, gaunt eyes

Fill up with, surprise, swollen with adoration
She points to the scuppered boat, get in and capsize
We'll drown together in total loving saturation.

Then the small boat with keel shattered drifted
It sunk where it stood - pivoted on top of a wave
Just as the seafarer flapped his arms and jiggled

Both heels joined, kicked to the reef into a concave.
Waves above were heard hissing like a banshee
'Ah, we see a desert island in the shape of a key

And a small boat with a leaking hull adrift
It anchors offshore; it becomes, likens a door.
To this island, for now, is a perfect, fitting key.'