To My Valentine
To My Valentine - meaning Summary
Playful Hyperbolic Devotion
Nash's lighthearted valentine uses exaggerated, comic comparisons to declare overwhelming love. The speaker lists absurd similes—juxtaposing affectionate devotion with things that hate, detest, or hurt—to turn negative images into proof of intensity. Repetition and playful rhythm keep the tone jaunty rather than solemn. The poem transforms everyday irritations and oppositions into affectionate magnitudes, making romance feel both humorous and emphatically sincere.
Read Complete AnalysesMore than a catbird hates a cat, Or a criminal hates a clue, Or the Axis hates the United States, That's how much I love you. I love you more than a duck can swim, And more than a grapefruit squirts, I love you more than a gin rummy is a bore, And more than a toothache hurts. As a shipwrecked sailor hates the sea, Or a juggler hates a shove, As a hostess detests unexpected guests, That's how much you I love. I love you more than a wasp can sting, And more than the subway jerks, I love you as much as a beggar needs a crutch, And more than a hangnail irks. I swear to you by the stars above, And below, if such there be, As the High Court loathes perjurious oathes, That's how you're love by me.
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