https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty by Jimmy Santiago Baca en-us 2021-11-20 21:25:28 UTC 2025-10-18 18:37:10 UTC hello@padlet.com st42366 https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903876955 What I notice about the structure of the poem is how after every couple stanzas Baca repeats "I love you." He is comparing the poem to different type of gifts, since he has nothing else to give. Stanzas 1-7 read, "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.."  Possibly letting the reader know that the poem might not be enough, but he wrote it with enough love that hopefully it can be enough as a warm coat and thick socks that keep the reader warm during the winter. 
Stanzas 8-13 read, " 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."  Once again repeating that he has nothing else to give so the poem is referred to objects that keep the reader warm such as a pot full of yellow corn and a scarf. 
In stanzas 14- 23 he is telling the reader to treasure the poem. Hold on to it as if it is important as a map that is needed for directions in life when life becomes too much as it does over time. Then if forgotten in a drawer to remember that the poem will still be there in case the reader needs directions in life, or something to remind them that in life they will always have a place of comfort , to slow down even through the tuff times in life. 
The final stanzas 24-29 read again "its all i have to give, and all anyone needs to live, and go on living inside, when the world outside- not longer cares if you live or die: remember, I love you." Again Possibly referring that the poem is written with enough love and care to keep them save and alive in a world that doesn't care . ]]> 2021-11-20 22:23:34 UTC https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903876955 st42366 https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903884420 Baca repeats "I love you" throughout the poem. He also repeats, " I have nothing else to give." in the first two sections. Baca might be repeating those to phrases because he wants the reader to remember that he doesn't have much to give but he is writing it with so much love and hopes it can be enough through hard times. ]]> 2021-11-20 22:43:34 UTC https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903884420 st42366 https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903886853 Throughout the poem Baca compares, keeping the poem as if it was something more useful. For example in stanzas 5 and 6 he writes, "or like a pair of thick socks- the cold cannot bite through." That letting the reader know the objects written mean the same as the poem being gifted. ]]> 2021-11-20 22:50:10 UTC https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903886853 st42366 https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903888330 The speaker of the poem might be Baca himself or just an individual writing the poem for someone. The speaker reads the poem slow, with a sort of passion, in a tone that gives the reader/listener a feeling of care and truth. ]]> 2021-11-20 22:54:03 UTC https://padlet.com/st42366/a81m0ricf29ki6ty/wish/1903888330