Valentine

• not a red rose or a satin heart - reject romantic cliche
• I give you an onion -extended metaphor and central conceit
• unusual love links to sexuality - part of LGBTQ+ community
• it promises light like the careful undressing of love
• it will blind you with tears like a lover
• I am trying to be truthful
• its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife
• its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful
• moon wrapped in brown paper - metaphor
• free verse showing freedom of love and perhaps suggesting that love is not always perfect
• lots of caesura creates disjointed pace suggesting love isn't always gentle and happy
• love is shown as realistic and unlike cliche images
• valentine was written by duffy when asked to write an original poem for valentines.
• she was openly part of the LGBTQ+ community