Valentine’s Day is drawing near and your plans to give your loved one a memorably romantic evening are almost complete. You’ve ordered a glorious Valentine's bouquet featuring traditional red roses and/or bought a very special present. You’ve booked a table at the charming local restaurant they keep saying they want to try or made sure you have the ingredients to cook their favourite meal. A bottle of fizz is chilling in the fridge. Or perhaps you’ve done none of these things so want to write a Valentine’s Day card which will really be remembered. Or perhaps you’ve done none of these things so want to write a Valentine’s Day card which will really be remembered.

This year you want to find a way of creating a unique and personal message that expresses just how you feel. But what to write in a Valentine’s card? Should you scour the internet for funny Valentine’s poems, or can you find something more deep and meaningful? What can you write on a Valentine’s card for a boyfriend or girlfriend that will delight, amuse, or simply make them realise how important they are to you?

Valentine’s poems for him or her are easy to find. But many are inappropriate or hackneyed – ‘Roses are red / Violets are blue’ and its many variations. So we decided to ask poetry tutor Vicky Wilson for her tips for creating your own unique Valentine’s Day poem to wow that special someone. Give it a go – and you need never wonder what to write in a Valentine’s card again.

Here are Vicky’s top tips for three different and unique Valentine’s poems.

Shape Valentine's Poems

First, make a list of all the qualities you value in your loved one. These can be genuine – beautiful eyes, generosity and so on – or for a more lighthearted touch or funny Valentine’s poem you could add in things like ‘manky slippers’ or ‘never on time’. You need about 20 things.

Trace in faint pencil the outline of a flower on the inside of your card. Using coloured pens or crayons, write the qualities you have listed along the pencil lines so your writing makes up the flower shape. The fact that it will take time to read means every word will be appreciated!

Our Classic Valentines Bouquet - our most popular creation at Valentine's

Kennings Valentine's Poem

This is another great Scandinavian import – though from traditional Old Norse poetry rather than modern noir or hygge-style ideas of comfort and cosiness.

The idea is to think of as many two-word phrases as you can to describe your loved one. Don’t worry about mixing things that don’t quite make sense with things that do - once you get started, you’ll soon find you’re on a roll. Here are some examples:

Cat lover / Cold feeter / Hard worker / Star gazer / Messy eater / Slow walker / Beer drinker / Life enhancer / TV watcher / Washer-upper / Lipstick wearer / Book devourer etc

You can either present the list running down the card line by line or dot the phrases randomly around the blank paper. At the bottom, end with something like: ‘What would I do without you?’ or ‘Yes, it’s YOU I love’. Your loved one will know that no one else could have written this one!

Our Pure Valentine's Bouquet - a beautiful alternative to red roses this Valentine's

Haiku Valentine's Poem

A traditional Japanese haiku has three lines of five, seven and five syllables – though for a Valentine’s Day card, any poem of three lines would qualify. Importantly, a haiku should always include a mention of something from the natural world.

To create a Valentine’s poem in haiku format, try following these instructions. For your first line, describe a memory, whether a one-off or something you enjoy on an almost daily basis. For your second line, describe something you love in your partner, whether a physical feature or an emotional quality. For your third line, list three natural phenomena that appeal to you. For instance: ‘Drinking coffee in bed / The way you always listen to what I have to say / Snowdrops, the crescent moon, flint.’ If you find this easy, then try combining several three-line haiku to make a longer Valentine’s Day poem.

Our Passionate Pink Valentine's Hat Box - pretty, pink & the perfect surprise this Valentine's

At The Real Flower Company, of course, we are romantics who know only too well the value of following your heart – that’s what led our founder Rosebie Morton to grow the roses she remembered lovingly from the English gardens of her childhood, nurtured with care every step of the way from soil to vase and retaining the all-important scent gene that creates an aroma to linger in the memory.

So now you’ve sorted out what to write in your Valentine’s card, you can find our full range of Valentine’s Day bouquets and arrangements here.