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!
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!
Task 1
This poem “Rainbow Death” is written by Hubert Wilson, a soldier during the Vietnam War (American versus Vietnam). He was sent to Vietnam to fight for USA and stayed there for about 18 years. As he stayed there, his heath started to deteriorate greatly, and doctors then could not diagnose the disease. Having limb pains, Hubert Wilson’s mobility deteriorate and retired as a soldier. Like his father, he turned to writing poems as his pastime and wrote many poems, mostly about war.
The poem “Rainbow Death”, a war poem, depicted the modern warfare during the Vietnam War. As trench warfare was not common during that time, both sides, especially the US used ‘Agent Orange’-a highly dangerous contaminant. ‘Agent Orange’ was made using several man-made and natural materials, which was invented by an American Scientist. ‘Agent Orange’. This method had killed millions of people, and also affected the health of the living.
This poem tells us that the impacts of modern warfare (in this case, gas attacks) are great and not only will it kills many lives, it will also affect the younger generations. From “Generations untold WILL pay”, unborn babies will suffer from birth defects and the word ‘WILL’ emphasises on the huge impact Agent Orange will bring to mankind.
The poet’s intention of writing this poem is to tell readers the dangers modern warfare can bring to mankind. This is caused by the cruelty of men who want to win at all costs. As war ended, it may seemed that people would not be affected anymore and they could therefore lead back a normal life, however, they were wrong as younger generations would also be affected. The poet is trying to convey the message to us that “Think twice before starting a war!”.
This poem “Rainbow Death” is written by Hubert Wilson, a soldier during the Vietnam War (American versus Vietnam). He was sent to Vietnam to fight for USA and stayed there for about 18 years. As he stayed there, his heath started to deteriorate greatly, and doctors then could not diagnose the disease. Having limb pains, Hubert Wilson’s mobility deteriorate and retired as a soldier. Like his father, he turned to writing poems as his pastime and wrote many poems, mostly about war.
The poem “Rainbow Death”, a war poem, depicted the modern warfare during the Vietnam War. As trench warfare was not common during that time, both sides, especially the US used ‘Agent Orange’-a highly dangerous contaminant. ‘Agent Orange’ was made using several man-made and natural materials, which was invented by an American Scientist. ‘Agent Orange’. This method had killed millions of people, and also affected the health of the living.
This poem tells us that the impacts of modern warfare (in this case, gas attacks) are great and not only will it kills many lives, it will also affect the younger generations. From “Generations untold WILL pay”, unborn babies will suffer from birth defects and the word ‘WILL’ emphasises on the huge impact Agent Orange will bring to mankind.
The poet’s intention of writing this poem is to tell readers the dangers modern warfare can bring to mankind. This is caused by the cruelty of men who want to win at all costs. As war ended, it may seemed that people would not be affected anymore and they could therefore lead back a normal life, however, they were wrong as younger generations would also be affected. The poet is trying to convey the message to us that “Think twice before starting a war!”.
Task 2 (Critical analysis of poetry)
**I merged the points Evidence and Elaboration together as it is easier to visualise.**
1) Point of View:
-An American soldier: As “America did not foresee” the great impacts of ‘Agent Orange’, an everlasting war was created and many generations were affected. All these were caused by “Nefariously America led astray”. The actions of the Americans were cruel and unhumane. As the war went on, USA were “expecting others (The Vienamese) to pay a high price” but the price was just too high for Vietnam to pay. “All the deceit continues to spread”. The hatred and sadness of the Vietnamese would continue to spread to younger generations. This war would never end.
-A neutral person: When the poet wrote “toll on the innocent and unborn”, we can know that he was writing in the view of a “by-stander” watching this war, supporting neither sides. If he were an American, he would have rejoiced as Vietnam had lost but he did not. However, if he were a Vietnamese, he would not have asked the Americans to “think twice” before their actions, inferring that .
2) Situation and Setting:
-Emotional: “All the deceit continues to spread” The poet felt this way as he thought it was unfair for Vietnam to suffer this horrendous treatment.
-Saddening: “Generations untold WILL pay” In reference to the story ‘To kill a mockingbird’, the younger generations of war are ‘mockingbirds’ as they suffered when they did no harm to the society. In the poet’s opinion, this was saddening.
-Hatred: “Toll on the innocent and unborn” and “All the deceit continues to spread” As Vietnam ‘tolled’ on the innocents, their minds would naturally be filled with hatred and revenge on the Americans. The word ‘deceit’ refers to hatred that the people would continue to spread so that one day, Vietnam could seek revenge on USA.
3) Language/Diction:
-“Potpourri” It means a mixture of materials or substances. However, in this poem, ‘potpourri’ means the mixture of deaths inflicted as a result of war.
-“Toll” It means a payment or price people have to pay. In this poem’s case, “toll on the innocent and unborn”, the Vietnamese would grieve and regret for their decision to fight the Americans. Now, they would have to pay the price.
4) Personal Response:
War is cruel and both sides will resort to anything just to defeat the enemy. In the case of ‘Rainbow Death’, the Americans resorted to gas attacks to defeat Vietnam. As a result, Vietnam had to pay a huge price that would even affect the younger generations.
Done by: Andy Lim (2o219)
References: Wikipedia (Information about Hubert Wilson)
**I merged the points Evidence and Elaboration together as it is easier to visualise.**
1) Point of View:
-An American soldier: As “America did not foresee” the great impacts of ‘Agent Orange’, an everlasting war was created and many generations were affected. All these were caused by “Nefariously America led astray”. The actions of the Americans were cruel and unhumane. As the war went on, USA were “expecting others (The Vienamese) to pay a high price” but the price was just too high for Vietnam to pay. “All the deceit continues to spread”. The hatred and sadness of the Vietnamese would continue to spread to younger generations. This war would never end.
-A neutral person: When the poet wrote “toll on the innocent and unborn”, we can know that he was writing in the view of a “by-stander” watching this war, supporting neither sides. If he were an American, he would have rejoiced as Vietnam had lost but he did not. However, if he were a Vietnamese, he would not have asked the Americans to “think twice” before their actions, inferring that .
2) Situation and Setting:
-Emotional: “All the deceit continues to spread” The poet felt this way as he thought it was unfair for Vietnam to suffer this horrendous treatment.
-Saddening: “Generations untold WILL pay” In reference to the story ‘To kill a mockingbird’, the younger generations of war are ‘mockingbirds’ as they suffered when they did no harm to the society. In the poet’s opinion, this was saddening.
-Hatred: “Toll on the innocent and unborn” and “All the deceit continues to spread” As Vietnam ‘tolled’ on the innocents, their minds would naturally be filled with hatred and revenge on the Americans. The word ‘deceit’ refers to hatred that the people would continue to spread so that one day, Vietnam could seek revenge on USA.
3) Language/Diction:
-“Potpourri” It means a mixture of materials or substances. However, in this poem, ‘potpourri’ means the mixture of deaths inflicted as a result of war.
-“Toll” It means a payment or price people have to pay. In this poem’s case, “toll on the innocent and unborn”, the Vietnamese would grieve and regret for their decision to fight the Americans. Now, they would have to pay the price.
4) Personal Response:
War is cruel and both sides will resort to anything just to defeat the enemy. In the case of ‘Rainbow Death’, the Americans resorted to gas attacks to defeat Vietnam. As a result, Vietnam had to pay a huge price that would even affect the younger generations.
Done by: Andy Lim (2o219)
References: Wikipedia (Information about Hubert Wilson)
