Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy

Ever wondered why someone would give an onion as a Valentine's gift? Duffy's unconventional choice creates the poem's central metaphor, showing how love has complicated layers that can be both beautiful and painful - just like peeling an onion makes you cry.

The poem uses free verse and a dramatic monologue style, which mirrors Duffy's rejection of conventional love. There's no fancy rhyme scheme or flowery language here - just plain, straightforward speech that feels honest and real. This untraditional structure perfectly matches the poem's message about avoiding clichéd expressions of love.

Duffy gets brutal about love's darker side. When she writes "It will blind you with tears", she's showing how love can hurt just as much as it can bring joy. The ending image of scent clinging "to your knife" suggests love's potential for violence and obsession - a far cry from the sugar-sweet Valentine's cards you see in shops.

Key Insight: Duffy was Scotland's Poet Laureate and part of the LGBTQ+ community, giving her a unique perspective on challenging traditional views of love and relationships.

The poem works brilliantly when compared to more traditional love poems like Sonnet 43, which uses religious imagery and perfect sonnet form. Whilst Barrett Browning asks "How do I love thee?", Duffy bluntly states "I give you an onion" - showing two completely different approaches to expressing the same emotion.