Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Valentine's Day

Valentine
By Carol Anne 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 car 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.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's just too good for words.

Anonymous said...

Happy St. Valentine's dearest! I love you!! :)

Anonymous said...

I know, Erika. I wish I could say I wrote it... But that'd be plagiarism, and we've already discussed that enough.

Anonymous said...

It took some real self-control not to burst while I was trying to read such meaningful poetry. Wow.... *Pahahahahahahaha!* :)

tduckybushenshrub said...

I *hate* onions!!!! ;-P

michelle said...

touching, I didn't read it.

Zenka said...

Then I *hate* you. Just kidding. :)
Oh, Hermes. What a chicken head you are.