valentine

• not a red rose or a satin heart
• i give you an onion
• it is a moon wrapped in brown paper
• it will blind you with tears
• it will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief
• i am trying to be truthful
• not a cute card or a kissogram
• its fierce kiss will stay on your lips
• possessive and faithful, as we are, as long as we are
• take it.
• shrink to a wedding ring
• lethal. (adjective)
• cling to your knife
• deconstructs and criticizes modern expectations of love
• In the poem, Duffy uses free verse to create an irregular form and structure. She does this to push new and complex ideas in a striking and intriguing way
• Duffy has had an unconventional romantic life. she ran away with and older man then came out as gay.