Valentine by Carol Ann Duffy as a poem, has similarities but also differences to Stealing. Instead of taking away another’s joy, the character in Valentine is giving joy. The character in Valentine is not selfish; the character gives more rather than receives (steal).
“Its scent will cling to your finger cling to your knife.”
An everlasting gift, to be remembered forever, to “cling” to your memories. To the author, perhaps the onion is more important, more meaningful than any other valentine gift. It represents Carol Ann Duffy’s view of love; her perception of love is symbolized not by a satin heart or a red rose, but an onion.
At the start of stealing, an unasked question is answered, which sort of implies the author is responding to a question asked by someone. -“The most unusual thing I ever stole?” It makes the poem more responsive, to feel the character relate his feeling to you, to have him telling you his life story, the wrongs he has done and the loneliness he feels and his feelings towards the world, towards others more fortunate than him.
Valentine also responds to a question
“Not a red rose or a satin heart” The question asked could be “What represents love?” or “what is your perception of love?” and the answer would be “ Not a red rose or a satin heard, I give you an onion.”
The author introduces the onion, just as one introduces someone on stage. The onion is actually quite a surprise because it isn’t usually seen as a symbol of love, but the author has her own opinion of love, maybe because of past experience. She sees love as an onion.
“A wobbling photo of grief”
The author obviously thinks love hurts; it is full of memories (photos). An onion will bring tears to your eyes.
“It will blind you with tears”
“Sometimes I steal things I don’t need.”
-This tells us that the character doesn’t really need the things he steals, he just steals to pass the time, break in to houses just to have a look, maybe at another family, to see how they live, where they live and how much better their lives are compared to his.
“I’m a mucky ghost, leave a mess, and maybe pinch a camera”
A ghost is usually hidden, stealthy and yet this “ghost” leaves a mess wherever he goes. He marks his “victims” he “tells” them he was there.
A camera holds images, happy images and memories of joy together as a family. Having no family, and no joy, he decides if he can’t have it neither can they.
“Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, possessive and faithful.”
Love lasts, it is fierce, and it stays on you possessive and yet faithful. It is lethal
“Cling to your knife”
This phrase tells us perhaps, love cannot be destroyed, even when you cut an onion, its scent will stay on your knife. Its scent making you cry. And your hands and knife are soiled in the lethal scent, of love, lethal memories. Perhaps this person had a bad experience of love and now thinks over it, no matter how hard she tries to give love, it is love that stings. And cause grieves and pain.
These two poems by Carol Ann Duffy have similarities but also differences. Both poems are about a lonely person, alone and reflecting on the past day by day. Both characters then relates his/ her story to the reader and tells you his/her perception of the world. Each responds to an unasked question. In one the character is active in his revenge on the world, which has hurt him and is sick of it, but in the other, the character just reflects on it, on the view of love, on the nature of love - an onion.
