fashioninasia - you know that both onions and garlic are to stimulate the senses and cause unwated sexual desires (by the strictest indian vegatarians who won't have them in their diet) ...
lil ms d - wouldn't have expected anything else from you ...
What an refreshingly un-romantic poem on our much commercialised, sugar-coated Valentines! Instead of schmaltzy sweetness, one offers a sharply pungent bite into the reality of love (onions have some sweetness), the tears in the slow, unpeeling and unfoldind process of lov-ing, guardedly holding out for a love that might be and that one day may be realised into marriage. This poem captures the tentativeness of modern love which people still desperately cling on to, but tempered with a knowingness of the sharp tears and the knife that hangs over the heart...and the onion metaphor in its ordinariness contrasts as an alternative to the chocolates and candy.
I used to work for Anvil Press, who first published Carol Ann Duffy, and we once went on a reading festival trip with her to Ireland. She was with her girlfriend, Jackie Kay. I found her quite frightening. But then I find most people rather alarming.
Happy Valentines day to you too!!
ReplyDeleteOnion is nice...garlic is even better!!!
bah humbug >:(
ReplyDeletefashioninasia - you know that both onions and garlic are to stimulate the senses and cause unwated sexual desires (by the strictest indian vegatarians who won't have them in their diet) ...
ReplyDeletelil ms d - wouldn't have expected anything else from you ...
What an refreshingly un-romantic poem on our much commercialised, sugar-coated Valentines! Instead of schmaltzy sweetness, one offers a sharply pungent bite into the reality of love (onions have some sweetness), the tears in the slow, unpeeling and unfoldind process of lov-ing, guardedly holding out for a love that might be and that one day may be realised into marriage. This poem captures the tentativeness of modern love which people still desperately cling on to, but tempered with a knowingness of the sharp tears and the knife that hangs over the heart...and the onion metaphor in its ordinariness contrasts as an alternative to the chocolates and candy.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon. :)
I used to work for Anvil Press, who first published Carol Ann Duffy, and we once went on a reading festival trip with her to Ireland. She was with her girlfriend, Jackie Kay. I found her quite frightening. But then I find most people rather alarming.
ReplyDeletedreamer idiot - and the poem gets unwrapped layer by layer like an onion!
ReplyDeletefbt - can't believe you find most people alarming! my goodness, you knew her. please tell the full story!!
wow. i like!
ReplyDeletebtw, how do i sign up for your MPH classes? read about it at Yvonne Foong's blog.
had already saved you a place anyway and i've sent you an e-mail.
ReplyDeletehaven't made any official announcement yet - still getting myself organised.
Love is like an onion, you spend all your time peeling it, only to discover that it stinks and makes you cry a lot ? :)
ReplyDeleteyou could certainly interpret it that way ... it fits, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteThis one made me smile!
ReplyDeleteyup it fits.. but the onions here are reddish.
ReplyDelete