"I am Offering This Poem" by Jimmy Santiago Baca

Which of the following statements best describes a theme of the poem?

• Sometimes people must sacrifice their own well-being for love.

• Love is better shown through gifts than expression and devotion.

• Love is a gift that can support people, particularly in hard times.

• People need their loved ones to provide them physical shelter during harsh times.

How does the repetition of the line 'I love you' contribute to the overall meaning of the poem?

• It reminds the reader that love is the cheapest and easiest gift to give away, decreasing its value.

• It shows how offering this poem represents the speaker offering love, creating a sincere tone.

• It suggests that love is separate and superior to material gifts, which should not be valued.

• It reveals that the speaker’s love is a hidden message only discovered by closely reading the poem.

PART A: Which of the following best summarizes the speaker’s purpose in the piece?

• to physically provide for their loved one

• to explain how they lost the ability to physically provide for their loved one

• to proclaim why they feel strongly about their loved one

• to explain what they can provide for their loved one

PART B: Which evidence from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• 'I have nothing else to give you' (Line 8)

• 'I will answer, give you directions, / and let you warm yourself by this fire' (Lines 20-21)

• 'I love you, / It’s all I have to give, / and all anyone needs to live' (Lines 23-25)

• 'the world outside / no longer cares if you live or die' (Lines 27-28)

In the context of this poem, can money buy happiness? How does having nothing impact one’s ability to love and be happy, if at all?

• Money can buy temporary happiness, but not true love and contentment.

• Having nothing makes it impossible to love and be happy.

• Lack of material possessions can enhance the value of love and happiness.

• Money is essential for love and happiness.