Poetry, The Key in the Door and other poems

Shipshape

You’re my lug, gaff,

my spritsail, spanker,

my calico jack

my reason to tack

My cutter, schooner,

a man-of-war

my best barque,

Cutty Sark

I am sheep-shanked

whip-ended, spliced,

love-hitched, true,

leech-lined to you

my fore, main and mizzen mast,

my anchor, its crown

its shank, hard, straight

and my sole sail-mate