Happy Valentine's Day to you. Whether you're madly in love, spending it with your girls or having an anti-Valentine's Day party as inspired by the movie, I hope it's a good one. Personally, one of the best Valentine's Days that I've had was when I was at Uni; My girlfriends and I decided to buy lots of pink wine, heart-shaped biscuits and cakes, laughed until our stomachs hurt and went to a club and danced the night away. Perfect.
'Valentine' by Carol Ann Duffy is one of my favourite poems. It's not a lovely dovey poem, in fact it's probably an anti - Valentine's day poem but it's something I think every woman can relate to.
Not a red rose or a satin heart.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.
Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.
I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.
Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.
I am trying to be truthful.
Not a cute card or a kissogram.
I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.
Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.
I'm sure we've all been blinded by tears at some point but this only means that Mr or Mrs Right is still out there.
