Valentine - By Carol Ann Duffy

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 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.

Favorite Children's Books

I've been babysitting a lot lately for Owen (18 months) and Clio (6 months). We've been reading together quite a bit (they're gonna grow up to be incredibly smart!) and so I thought I'd share some of my favorite books for the wee ones:

1. If You Give a Pig a Pancake
2. Caps for Sale
3. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
4. Chugga-chugga Choo-choo
5. and everything by Sandra Boynton,
    especially Moo, Baa, La La La!