I Am Offering This Poem

This heartfelt poem is an offering to a beloved. Throughout, Baca compares the poem to elements of survival and comfort. These include “a warm coat” (Line 3), “a pot full of yellow corn” (Line 9), “a cabin or hogan” (Line 18), and “fire […]” (Line 21). Using figurative language, Baca compares poetry with these items to highlight the importance of his craft—not only to his reader but to the world.

As its refrain illustrates, “I Am Offering This Poem” is also a love poem. Baca repeats the phrase “I love you” (Lines 7, 13, 23, 30) four times, each time as a single-line stanza. His choice to set the sentiment on its own line—as well as to repeat it—gives added weight to his affection.

Baca often reads this much-loved poem in public and has shared videos of readings online. In one, he explains that he wrote this poem as a young man who wanted to attract women with his words rather than expensive gifts (Baca, Jimmy Santiago. “Immigrants in our Own Land - I Am Offering This Poem to You.” Facebook Watch, 2017).

The poem is