Simple recursive function to convert a yaml literal block string ("|-") to yaml-valid python dictionary

yaml_string_to_dictionary.py

def dictionarize(s, d={}, key=None):
    """
    Simple recursive function to convert a yaml literal block string ("|-") to yaml-valid python dictionary
    
    Args:
        s, str: yaml-valid input string
        d, dict: output dictionary
        key, str: key in the dictionary at which to add nested values
        
    Returns:
        d, dict: yaml-valid python dictionary
    """
    if isinstance(s, str):
        s = s.split('\n')
    for kv in list(s):
        try:
            k, v = kv.split(':')
        except ValueError:
            if kv in s:
                s.remove(kv)
                dictionarize(s, d)
        if v:
            if key:
                d[key][k.strip()] = v.strip()
            else:
                d[k] = v.strip()
        else:
            key = k.strip()
            d[k.strip()] = {}
        if kv in s:
            s.remove(kv)
    return d