Analysis Task 2

I am going to analyse the poem "Rainbow Death" today to complete the E learning homework(Task 2)
Okay, I shall put the poem here for reference

Rainbow Death

America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.

Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray!

By Hubert Wilson

Point Of View

I believe the poem is written from the perspective of someone or had encountered and seen the effects of Agent Orange.He knew about the "Execrable effects of agent orange spray" meaning he was there to see it since he could tell what " America did not foresee" He could not have foresight and should be there when Agent Orange was released and stayed there to see the devastating effects of it to tell the tale.He is retelling his experience of Agent Orange.The fact that he could know so much about the horrible effects of Agent orange such as "illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" and "Toll on the innocent and unborn" showed he had first-hand experience with it.From the reference of background information,he was a person that went to war in Vietnam since he was a Vietnam veteran so he should be able to see the effects since the war was about a span of 20 years.

Situation and Setting

The setting of the poem is after Agent Orange has been used.It can been seen that the poet is talking about the devastating effects of the Agent Orange and reflecting and feeling regretful.Since he had experienced it himself, it is shown in the poem that the poet feeling quite emotional about this. He wishes to show that the devastating effects of warfare or herbicide warfare(found in background information)and that many times,people are unable to foresee how badly war can affect a country. He sets the story in the aftermath of Agent Orange to show the reality of the use of herbicide on the people "illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" To fit in historical background, Agent Orange was used in the Vietnam War and it caused 400,000 deaths. I guess the main purpose of the poem is to show people how modern warfare can destroy lives and thus needing the setting of aftermath of the war or the use of herbicide.

Language and Diction

Well, when I looked at the title " Rainbow Death" I was puzzled.These two words were never meant to be together.I soon realised it was an oxymoron. I checked the web that rainbow actually symbolizes heavenly glory or they serve as a bridge between earth and paradise.However used in this poem which is a war poem is very unsuitable since it is talking about many people dying from the effects of Agent Orange from herbicide warfare.To fit in the context, the rainbow could be referring to the different colored herbicide used in warfare such as Agent Orange and Agent Green which caused death and deformities.Rainbow is a pathway to glory or heaven or so to speak but this rainbow, a pathway leads to death.It is trying to convey that fighting(the bridge) is not glorious, it just lead to gruesome death.Rainbow here is like a bridge to hell.

The poet also uses "potpourri" to describe death.There are two meaning to potpourri. One is a mixture of dried flowers and leaves used for making a room smell nice or a mixture of things that were not originally meant to form a group.I have two interpretations. Since it is "death potpourri", it could be an oxymoron. Death does not usually go with something pleasant smelling.It could be scolding the Americans for turning a herbicide ,supposed to help man, into a war tool which kill lives.Or it could be referring to the unusual mixture of"Green, pink, purple" and "death" Death is obviously a negative word. The colors shown are mostly vibrant colours which some symbolises life.However,these bright colors had led to death.(Bright colours = death?) seemingly harmless product could have caused death.This is something quite unexpected. It could show that the Americans did not foresee the effects of the Agent Orange(representing the colours)such as the death of thousands.

Personal Response

This poem made me feel very uneasy yet at the same time pity for those who suffered from the war.From the first line "America did not foresee" it actually started from a very ominous note.It foreshadowed the bad that would follow.The fact that he uses oxymoron leaves the readers puzzled and uneasy since it is not very clear what he was talking about until the very end when he said "agent orange spray" He describes the atrocity the Americans had done using words like "Nefariously" to describe them. It meant the Americans were wicked.It elaborate about the heavy and devastating effects of the war such as" illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" while the Americans had been "Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn" This creates an image that a powerful person had caused a major and terrible effect to the people of a weaker country like a bully bullying the weak.He tells the reader what had caused the death of thousands at the very end in hope of evoking some anger or outrage in the readers.

The poet had effectively conveyed his message that modern warfare can cause the death and suffering to over hundreds of thousands of people.He hoped through this poem,he could make people aware of the atrocity of war and perhaps prevent anymore innocent bloodshed from happening again.

It may seem futile but a man can hope.