Valentine Poem by Carol Ann Duffy

Valentine

Rating: 4.0


Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or a kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.

Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: food
COMMENTS OF THE POEM
Susan Williams 26 October 2015

She is fierce, wry, and her eye is very discerning. Read her carefully. Enjoy her well

52 25 Reply
Prence Shqipe 26 April 2015

For Valentine’s Day not ‘red rose, satin heart, cute card….kissogram’, just onions. Throughout the poem the onion is a metaphor for love, developed in different ways. You must be careful with love to get its benefit, just as you must be careful with the onion. The ‘onion’ in this poem is also an image which forms an analogy for the poet’s views and attitude to love relationship and romance. As always stunning and unique!

26 21 Reply
Bill Wright 22 April 2016

Fantastic imagery and an excellent metaphor.

15 25 Reply
Pranab K Chakraborty 14 February 2015

Fantastic project to onionify a gift to a special day, at least a day to demonstrate the degree of love to the special one. Fantastic metaphor. Thanks a lot. Enjoyed much.

13 22 Reply
Khairul Ahsan 16 December 2014

I love the straight talk told in the poem, under a romantic title. Well done, poet!

11 23 Reply
Bri Edwards 01 December 2022

I'm staying out of the kitchen. bri

1 1 Reply
ur gay 09 February 2022

this poem is so trash. my 2 year old disabled cousin can do better.

7 13 Reply
yes 29 April 2021

no

1 0 Reply
Kono dio da 08 July 2020

I don't think that the poem is mainly about food...

1 1 Reply
faith 24 May 2019

this poem is fantabulous and I love big pp

12 1 Reply
Carol Ann Duffy

Carol Ann Duffy

Glasgow / Scotland
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