Poem for the Day: Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Valentine
by
Carol Ann Duffy

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.

 

 



Carol Ann Duffy writes:

"This was written for radio one February.

There was a basket of onions on the kitchen table,

where I was sitting with my notebook.

 

A couple of years later, a reader sent me a lovely

watercolour based on the poem.  More recently

a proof copy from a publisher misprinted 'onion'

throughout as 'opinion'. 

 

An improvement perhaps."