1st Stanza

not a red rose or a satin heart. not- negative, unoriginal red rose (alliteration) and satin heart typical valentine gifts, both have a contrast of being nice and one being of death. satin heart links back to red.

2nd Stanza
I give you an onion onion is a metaphorical symbol for love throughout the poem. Love=bitterness? it is a moon a wrapped in brown paper brown paper is a metaphor, and also links back to the onion. It promises light like the careful undressing of love. The simile compares love to an onion and undressing of love also helps compare to an onion as if you were peeling it.

3rd Stanza
It will blind you to tears like a lover. The simile makes a comparison between a lover making you cry and an onion making your eyes water. The word blind can link into the well known saying love is blind. It will make your reflection a wobbling photo of grief. reflection looking at your reflection in the mirror or reflecting on yourself. wobbling idea that maybe this person is crying, linking back to the second line in this stanza.

4th Stanza
I am trying to be truthful. Making a stanza only one short sentence helps bring focus to it. It tells us that maybe the poet is favouring honest over a fake statement. trying might indicate that she has not been truthful in the past but she is trying to be through this poem.

5th Stanza
Not a cute card or a kissogram. Another short stanza helps in stand out and helps us as a reader focus on it more. This sentence has been repeated, the first line in the poem was Not a red rose or a satin heart. By using repetition the poet is trying to emphasis his thoughts on these typical valentines day gifts.

6th Stanza
I give you an onion. Again the poet as used repetition on this statement of giving an onion after saying she would not give typical valentines day gifts she is giving an onion instead of the typical valentines day gifts as she thinks it gives a much deeper meaning. Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips fierce kiss oxymoron, helps link to the taste of the onion on your lips. for as long as we are. Shows that this relationship might not last, the poet seems doubtful or she could have been realistic.

7th Stanza
its platinum loops shrink to a weddingring, if you like Cutting an onion goes in to loops and has connotations of a wedding ring. if you like carries the thought of doubt. Traditional valentines poem, a proposal of marriage.

8th Stanza
lethal. Its scent will cling to your fingers, cling to your knife. Lethal and knife link to one another. cling love clings.. Can not be removed, Knife marked with scent, ready to punish betrayal.