Valentine Flashcards
“Not a red rose or satin heart.”
Dramatic, one line stanza. It rejects the overly sentimental and materialistic ideas about love.
“I give you an onion.”
Instead, she aims to present a more ‘truthful’ and realistic picture of a relationship and way love really means. It is meant to shock the reader through the unconventional gift.
“It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”
Extended image of the onion is meant to show the positive and negative aspect of love as the word choice of ‘moon’ is meant to symbolise love and romanticism. Love opens for many new opportunities.
“It promises light”
Light has connotations of a bright future, a happy tine ahead which she guarantees can be their time together, with many possibilities. The image is an extension of the description of the onion as a ‘moon’ which is a reflection of its shape and colour- a pale orb.
“like the careful undressing of love.”
Delicate, tender and intimate. A gentle metaphor for sex (taking off clothes).
“Here.”
Minor sentence. Very clear and demonstrative- she was the person she is talking to to be under no illusion.
“It will blind you with tears.”
Love is difficult.
“wobbling photo of grief”
You’ll look into the mirror and see tears. The word choice of ‘photo’ suggests memory/nostalgia of the past and past relationships.
“fierce kiss”
Makes the reader think about the more lustful, aggressive, dangerous and scary kind of love. Being so in love in makes you overly passionate.
“possessive and faithful”
Like faithful to a God: submissive and devoting to your lover. Someone you should fear and love simultaneously.
“Take it.”
Minor sentence emphasises an aggressive command.
“Cling to your fingers/Cling to your knife.”
Violent, aggressive, frightening. Relationships can and will be painful. You cannot get the love out of you.
