Valentine Flashcards
Not
begins with negative word choice. we immediately know poem won’t be a traditional representation of a valentine or love
Not a red rose or a satin heart
rejection of traditional symbols of love which have become original gift ideas with not much thought put into buying them. word choice attached negativity to these items.
I give you an onion
The metaphor of the onion for love is the central image being developed throughout the whole poem. may seem like a comical offering however the multilayered complexity of the onion makes it an excellent symbol for love and real relationships.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
Metaphor. the white of the onion being the moon. referring to the moon reminds us of the conventional symbols of romance. texture and colour of the outer layer reminds us that real romantic gifts don’t need fancy wrapping to have the same meaning. there’s an honesty to that and this is a positive aspect of love.
light
optimism, hope, purity of love - suggesting the relationship will be enriching and fulfilling.
like the careful undressing of love
simile. “careful” suggests tenderness and warmth/affection and sensitivity between lovers as love gradually allows barriers to come down and layers of personality to be shown.
Here
single word command. slightly forceful presentation of gift
It will blind you with tears like a lover
simile. a real relationship can also bring pain/sadness
make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief
metaphor. if you look at yourself in the mirror when crying, your image will appear blurry. this metaphor highlights the vulnerability and danger people expose themselves to when they open themselves completely to a romantic relationship. this person has the power to hurt you the most, relationships have the potential to be destructive.
I am trying to be truthful
suggest that being honest might be painful but is the right thing to do for a real relationship to work. stresses the desire of honesty within a relationship
Not a cute card or a kissogram
“Not” echos opening line. rejection of stereotypical valentines gifts
I give you an onion
repeating this fact emphasises speaker’s insistence that the onion is the perfect gift and is more meaningful than those other romantic gifts
fierce kiss
passionate, romantic yet also a darkness that can be associated with love
stay on your lips
strong taste of onion will linger, implying the memory of the kiss will linger
possessive
negative word choice. reveals an element of insecurity that most people have. you’re claiming that person as your own - no one else gets to kiss them
faithful
positive word choice. trustworthy and committed.
Take it
this command continues the insistence on accepting the gift
shrink to a wedding right
wedding ring is a traditional symbol of love and has positive connotations. eternal nature of circle becomes romantic in the context of a relationship. “shrink” could be interpreted as negative - a perspective of marriage being constrictive.
lethal
love can be deadly, feels terrible if it goes wrong and can be destructive or it can be the death of you individually or death of who you were before
cling to your fingers
the smell of onion on your hands isn’t pleasant and you would want to remove it but, like the smell of an onion is hard to remove, the consequences of a relationship can be difficult to remove too
cling to your
repetition echos idea of possessive love. the effects of love in a powerful relationship will remain with you.
knife
poem ends dramatically with knife to chop onion which can make you cry. ending can be seen as a sinister way to leave the poem and implies that love will always be associated with pain.
as we are
repetition emphasises the strong bond between them
for as long as we are
mixture of positive and negative word choice, along with this line, indicates realistic awareness of what relationships are. no unrealistic promises, they will be together for as long as their love lasts, however long that may be.
