Clinging to your body like the scent <br />of onions you have cut is love. <br />You cannot peel it off and shove <br />away its skin, for like cement, <br />it hardens over time, and may <br />show cracks for which you aren’t prepared, <br />which sometimes have to be repaired <br />in order to prevent decay, <br />but even when it crumbles you <br />can still detect the scent with which <br />it first delighted you. A switch <br />to others alters how you view <br />the love, but it retains its smell <br />which can’t be changed, because it clings <br />to you, and sometimes even stings <br />like words that break a magic spell. <br /> <br /> <br />Inspired by a poem by the new British poet laureate, Carol Ann Duffy: <br /> <br />Valentine <br /> <br />Not a red rose or a satin heart. <br /> <br />I give you an onion. <br />It is a moon wrapped in brown paper. <br />It promises light <br />like the careful undressing of love. <br /> <br />Here. <br />It will blind you with tears <br />like a lover. <br />It will make your reflection <br />a wobbling photo of grief. <br /> <br />I am trying to be truthful. <br /> <br />Not a cute card or a kissogram. <br /> <br />I give you an onion. <br />Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips, <br />possessive and faithful <br />as we are, <br />for as long as we are. <br /> <br />Take it. <br />Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding-ring, <br />if you like. <br /> <br />Lethal. <br />Its scent will cling to your fingers, <br />cling to your knife. <br /> <br /> <br />5/1/09<br /><br />gershon hepner<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/clinging-like-the-scent-of-onions/
