"Rainbow Death" by Hubert Wilson
Difficulty Rating: **
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!
Part 1:
The poem by Hubert Wilson emphasises on the modern day warfare weapon, the use of herbicides during the Vietnam War. Herbicides by the name of Agent Orange, green, pink and purple were some of the herbicides used during the war. The most widely used herbicide was Agent Orange contaminated with TCDD. THe main purpose of the herbicides was to clear off the foilage along the riverbanks as there were many Viet Cong soldiers ambushed there. As they sprayed the herbicides, they got their intended results and the plants dried up. However, the American were so shortsighted that they did not know they were contaminating the Vietnamese's living environment too. Due to the toxins in the herbicides, it resulted in approximately 400,000 deaths and disabilities and 500,000 children born with defects. It showed that even though the war has ended, misery of the people from the effects of the war live on. In addition, it is the innocent generations of civilians who will have to pay the price for the grave mistake America made.
Part 2:
1. Whose Point of View
Statement: The poem adopts a first-hand account of war’s evil, for the poet was the Ssgt USAF, from 1968 to 1972
Evidence: The poet, Hubert Wilson, was the SSGT of the USAF from 1968 to 1972
Elaboration: The poet wanted to speak of the horrors and terrifying effects of modern warfare to the public as he had been through the whole war.
2. Situation and Setting
Statement: The poem was set in the Vietnam War, However, it also shows the present effects of the war.
Evidence: The "Agent Orange" shows that the poet was referring to the Vietnam War. While the line "Toll on the innocent and unborn." shows the present effects.
Elaboration: The poet wanted to show that modern warfare caused a lot of harm and pain for the civilians just because of a simple yet grave mistake made by the United States. The disabilities and birth defects are long term problems that cannot be healed with a pill or two. In fact, it is something that will stay for generations.
3. Language/Diction
Statement:The tone is as though he is speaking in disapproval of the US's mistake and rebuking them, asking them to reflect on themselves.
Evidence: "America did not foresee. Expecting others to pay a high price. Now thinking twice?" shows the poets unhappines with America's decision .
Elaboration: He sounds as though he is forcing them to reflect and telling them that it is too late.
4. Personal Response
Statement: The title of the poem is oxymoronic. Rainbows are meant to be a sign that the worst is over. However, in the poem, it means that the troubles are far from over.
Evidence: The rainbow death is referring to the different colours of agents, for example, "Agent Orange, Agent Green" most of which form the colours of a rainbow.
Elaboration: Rainbows are never used to represent death. A rainbow usually appears after the rain, in other words, it is a sign that the worst is over. However, in the Vietnam war, the "rainbow-coloured agents" bring death, disabilities and birth defects to the people.
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