I Am Offering this Poem Literature and Writing Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Lines)

Quote #1

I am offering this poem to you (1)

The poem begins by calling attention to itself. The speaker's telling us, "Hey, pay attention! This is a poem about a poem."

Quote #2

I have nothing else to give you,
so it is a pot full of yellow corn (8-9)

The speaker makes us understand the value of the poem by comparing it to the everyday things that nourish us: in this case a pot full of corn (yum).

Quote #3

Keep it, treasure this as you would
if you were lost, needing direction (14-15)

Here the speaker presents us with another way that his poem (and poetry in general) is valuable. It can guide us and help us find our way through life.