Jan Allison | + Follow Poet |
Free verse | + Fav Poem | Comment | Email | Print |

My Cynical Valentine

The ‘price of love’ rises just for one day of the year
Stick a cardboard heart on some merchandise  - the price quadruples!

Every February we see ‘love’ lying in neat rows on the shop shelves
Cards, chocolates, flowers, perfume and cute fluffy toys
A sea of red roses that stretches as far as the eye can see
For some reason these roses are never Buy One Get One Free!!!!
The prices they charge rise quicker than a red heart shaped helium balloon
Yet on 15th February everything will be half price

Is this the price of true love or am I just a cynic?



I’ve never had a Valentine from my husband, or him from me
We don’t need to prove our love on just one day of the year

Jan Allison
3rd February 2016

Copyright © Jan Allison | Year Posted 2016

Please Login to post a comment

Etienne Lariviere Date: 2/13/2016 2:43:00 PM vrai, tres bien Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/13/2016 2:45:00 PM Thank you again Etienne:-) hugs Jan xx

Rob Bettridge Date: 2/3/2016 11:23:00 PM There lots of impromptu ways of letting one's partner know and feel they are appreciated. I won't succumb to commercial Seasonal influence on principal. Btw, Easter Eggs are on sale already in the shops! Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/4/2016 3:28:00 AM We buy things when we want them not because a day dictates and that applies to Christmas and birthdays too.. as for Easter Eggs - they had a display stand of them (mini eggs etc) on boxing day at our co - op - it drives me mad arghhhhhhhhhh:-( hugs Jan xx

Connie Marcum Wong Date: 2/3/2016 10:50:00 PM You don't need material things to know you are loved, I agree. A no nonsense view displayed in your poem. Great writing Jan. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/4/2016 3:26:00 AM I agree Connie and the price of love sure goes up on this one day:-( Hugs Jan xx

CayCay Jennings Date: 2/3/2016 4:48:00 PM Not a cynic, just wise about commercialism and profit-oriented holidays for HallMark and others to prosper. I love the double meaning of 'love lying.' I write my own poem valentine cards - they are sincere and truly from me, without profit to any entity. I enjoyed this ... CayCay (ps - I just want lots and lots of chocolate.) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/3/2016 4:54:00 PM yes there is double meaning in those lines lol:-) we will buy lots of chocolate when we visit Ireland lol:-) hugs Jan xx

Emile Pinet Date: 2/3/2016 4:07:00 PM Love can not be purchased, it must be experienced and there are no easy answers or short cuts that can relay such feelings through merchandizing. Well written. Emile. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/3/2016 4:13:00 PM Thanks Emile - we have been together 27 years and never celebrated Valentines Day with cards etc - in fact I proposed to my hubby on Valentine's day ... but it wasn't a leap year:-) hugs Jan xx

Ralph Sergi Date: 2/3/2016 11:58:00 AM Hi Jan: Great poem and provocative thought about love. My wife's not into Valentines but I'm a chocolate freak! The trend of love will rise as the dollar sign. Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/3/2016 12:02:00 PM I too love chocolate but we can buy it any day of the week and not pay a dividend because it is heart shaped or comes in a pretty red box lol:-) hugs Jan xx

Anne-Lise Andresen Date: 2/3/2016 11:43:00 AM - Pure and big business !!!! - I am 100% agree with you, Jan :) - Well written ! - hugs // Anne-Lise :) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/3/2016 11:54:00 AM It is big business Anne Lise and I don't 'buy' love:-) hugs jan xx

Rahy Hy Date: 2/3/2016 11:12:00 AM So true Jan :)) However I love it when Valentine chocolates are half price next day :)) time to indulge .. Hugs, Rahy Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/3/2016 11:26:00 AM I agree Rahy that's the time to buy lol:-) hugs jan xx

Eric Boddie Date: 2/3/2016 10:20:00 AM jan my friend, you be getting it in because Love is no trend, and I will defend it against those who offend with the concept of the "one" day win because TRUE Love is too real to pretend....Love this jan....;) Login to Reply Jan Allison Date: 2/3/2016 10:23:00 AM Thanks Eric - the shops are awash with hearts and flowers at inflated prices - have been with my hubby 27 years and we have never succumbed to being ripped off to declare our love - we are stronger than ever since my hubby had cancer - that is the real proof of love:-) hugs jan xx