SOURCE TEXT:
I Am Offering this Poem

I am offering this poem to you,
since I have nothing else to give.
Keep it like a warm coat
when winter comes to cover you,
or like a pair of thick socks
the cold cannot bite through,

I love you,

I have nothing else to give you,
so it is a pot full of yellow corn
to warm your belly in winter,
it is a scarf for your head, to wear
over your hair, to tie up around your face,

I love you,

Keep it, treasure this as you would
if you were lost, needing direction,
in the wilderness life becomes when mature;
and in the corner of your drawer,
tucked away like a cabin or hogan*
in dense trees, come knocking,
and I will answer, give you directions,
and let you warm yourself by this fire,
rest by this fire, and make you feel safe

I love you,

It’s all I have to give,
and all anyone needs to live,
and to go on living inside,
when the world outside
no longer cares if you live or die;
remember,

I love you.

*hogan: wooden hut/shelter

Jimmy Santiago Baca

QUESTIONS:
In 'I Am Offering this Poem', how does the poet present the speaker's feelings about love?

1. **Introduction:** State your main argument. Explain that the speaker's love is presented as a fundamental, nurturing force that offers protection and sustenance, replacing material possessions. 2. **Paragraph 1 (Extended Metaphor):** Analyse the central metaphor of the poem as a gift. Discuss the specific similes used: 'like a warm coat', 'like a pair of thick socks'. Explain how these everyday, practical items show that the speaker's love is not abstract or romanticised, but tangible and essential for comfort and survival against the 'cold' of the world. 3. **Paragraph 2 (Imagery of Sustenance and Guidance):** Explore the imagery related to food and shelter. The poem is a 'pot full of yellow corn' and a 'cabin or hogan'. Analyse how this imagery presents love as something that provides nourishment, safety, and direction ('give you directions'). 4. **Paragraph 3 (Language and Tone):** Discuss the effect of the simple, direct language ('I have nothing else to give') and the repetition of the phrase 'I love you'. Explain how this creates a tone of sincerity, honesty, and deep affection. The repetition acts as a refrain, reinforcing the central message of the poem. 5. **Paragraph 4 (Structure):** Comment on the free verse structure. The lack of a strict rhyme scheme or rhythm gives the poem a conversational, intimate feel, as if the speaker is talking directly to their loved one. The stanza breaks, often isolating the phrase 'I love you', give it emphasis and power. 6. **Conclusion:** Summarise your points. Conclude that Baca presents love as the ultimate gift, more valuable than any material object, because it provides the essential warmth, nourishment, and security needed to endure life's hardships.