“Valentine” is a free verse poem written by Scottish poet, author, and playwright Carol Ann Duffy. The speaker presents their lover with a valentine in the form of an onion, then explains the reasoning behind this unusual gift. In doing so, the speaker critiques traditional, idealized images of love and argues for more complete and honest portrayals of its effects. Like much of Duffy’s work, this poem employs plain, straightforward language and uses the dramatic monologue mode to amplify a perspective that is usually sidelined from mainstream discourse. “Valentine” was first published in Duffy’s 1993 poetry collection, Mean Time.
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The Full Text of “Valentine”
The Full Text of “Valentine”
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“Valentine” Summary
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“Valentine” Themes
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The Nature of Love
Where this theme appears in the poem:- Lines 1-23
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Line-by-Line Explanation & Analysis of “Valentine”
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Lines 1-2
Not a red ...
... you an onion. -
Lines 3-5
It is a ...
... undressing of love. -
Lines 6-10
Here. ...
... photo of grief. -
Lines 11-13
I am trying ...
... you an onion. -
Lines 14-17
Its fierce kiss ...
... as we are. -
Lines 18-20
Take it. ...
... if you like. -
Lines 21-23
Lethal. ...
... to your knife.
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“Valentine” Symbols
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Classic Valentine's Day Gifts
Where this symbol appears in the poem:- Line 1: “a red rose or a satin heart”
- Line 12: “a cute card or a kissogram”
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“Valentine” Poetic Devices & Figurative Language
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Apostrophe
Where apostrophe appears in the poem:- Line 2
- Lines 6-10
- Lines 13-20
- Lines 22-23
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Consonance
Where consonance appears in the poem:- Line 1: “Not,” “red,” “rose,” “or,” “satin,” “heart”
- Line 2: “an onion”
- Line 3: “moon,” “wrapped,” “brown,” “paper”
- Line 4: “promises light”
- Line 5: “like,” “careful,” “undressing,” “love”
- Line 6: “Here”
- Line 7: “will blind,” “tears”
- Line 8: “like,” “lover”
- Line 11: “trying to,” “truthful”
- Line 12: “Not,” “cute card,” “or,” “kissogram”
- Line 13: “an onion”
- Line 14: “Its fierce kiss,” “will,” “stay,” “lips”
- Line 15: “possessive,” “faithful”
- Line 19: “platinum loops”
- Line 20: “like”
- Line 21: “Lethal”
- Line 22: “will cling,” “fingers”
- Line 23: “cling,” “knife”
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End-Stopped Line
Where end-stopped line appears in the poem:- Line 1: “heart.”
- Line 2: “onion.”
- Line 3: “paper.”
- Line 5: “love.”
- Line 6: “Here.”
- Line 8: “lover.”
- Line 10: “grief.”
- Line 11: “truthful.”
- Line 12: “kissogram.”
- Line 13: “onion.”
- Line 14: “ lips,”
- Line 16: “are,”
- Line 17: “are.”
- Line 18: “it.”
- Line 19: “ring,”
- Line 20: “like.”
- Line 21: “Lethal.”
- Line 22: “fingers,”
- Line 23: “knife.”
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Juxtaposition
Where juxtaposition appears in the poem:- Lines 1-2: “Not a red rose or a satin heart. / I give you an onion.”
- Line 3: “It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.”
- Lines 12-13: “Not a cute card or a kissogram. / I give you an onion.”
- Lines 19-21: “Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring, / if you like. / Lethal.”
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Metaphor
Where metaphor appears in the poem:- Lines 3-4: “It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. / It promises light”
- Lines 9-10: “It will make your reflection / a wobbling photo of grief.”
- Lines 14-15: “Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, / possessive and faithful”
- Line 19: “Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,”
- Lines 21-23: “Lethal. / Its scent will cling to your fingers, / cling to your knife.”
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Personification
Where personification appears in the poem:- Lines 4-5: “It promises light / like the careful undressing of love.”
- Lines 14-16: “Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, / possessive and faithful / as we are,”
- Lines 21-23: “Lethal. / Its scent will cling to your fingers, / cling to your knife.”
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Repetition
Where repetition appears in the poem:- Line 1: “Not a red rose or a satin heart.”
- Line 2: “I give you an onion.”
- Line 3: “It”
- Line 4: “It”
- Line 7: “It will”
- Line 9: “It will”
- Line 12: “Not a cute card or a kissogram.”
- Line 13: “I give you an onion.”
- Line 14: “Its”
- Lines 16-17: “as we are, / for as long as we are.”
- Line 19: “Its”
- Lines 22-23: “cling to your fingers, / cling to your knife.”
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Simile
Where simile appears in the poem:- Lines 4-5: “It promises light / like the careful undressing of love.”
- Lines 7-8: “It will blind you with tears / like a lover.”
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“Valentine” Vocabulary
Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem.
- Satin
- Kissogram
- Possessive
- Lethal
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(Location in poem: Line 1: “satin”)
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Form, Meter, & Rhyme Scheme of “Valentine”
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Form
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Meter
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Rhyme Scheme
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“Valentine” Speaker
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“Valentine” Setting
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Literary and Historical Context of “Valentine”
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More “Valentine” Resources
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External Resources
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Carol Ann Duffy Reads "Valentine" and More — Listen to the author read and briefly discuss the poem at the Poetry on the Lake poetry festival [1:22-3:19].
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Profile of Carol Ann Duffy — An in-depth profile of Duffy from 2002, including interview questions and details of her biographical and literary history.
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Guardian Books Podcast: Carol Ann Duffy's Love Poems for Valentine's Day — A 38-minute podcast episode in which the author reads and discusses many of her own love poems, including "Valentine," with a live audience [3:35-6:02].
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Biography of Carol Ann Duffy — An overview of the author's life and work from the Poetry Foundation.
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What is Thatcherism? — A brief, straightforward overview of Thatcherism from the BBC.
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Remembering the '80s — A lighthearted but insightful piece in which about a dozen individuals (mostly from media industries) discuss their experience of Thatcher's Britain.
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LitCharts on Other Poems by Carol Ann Duffy
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