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!
Unbiased / Candid / Truthful
Evidence:"America did not foresee / Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
"Expecting others to pay a high price. / Now thinking twice?"
"Nefariously America led astray"
"Execrable effects of agent orange spray"
Elaboration: The poet is an American who fought for America in the Vietnam war. However, here he says that America makes a mistake, being "led astray". He also sets this poem after he himself has experienced the effects of Agent Orange, and is very infuriated by it. Hence, we can tell that this is an unbiased and truthful point of view, not siding with his own country, saying that there is nothing wrong.
Situation and Setting --> In a war, the Agent Orange had been used and the effects are dire, to both sides fighting the war. In this poem, the poet feels emotional for the use of Agent Orange after seeing the aftermath of the usage of it. He clearly feels that Agent Orange should not have been used as it causes great damage to both sides in the war, and the damages affect not only his generation, but subsequent generations as well, being born with defects, etc. In a sentence that covers it all, it means that the war doesn't end even when it is said to have ended. In simple words, it means the damages done in a war carries on even after the war is said to have ended.
Language and Diction --> Oxymoron
Emphasis or words
Evidence: "Rainbow Death"
"Death potpourri"
"Nefariously America led astray"
"deceit"
Elaboration: The usage of the title, "Rainbow Death", is an oxymoron. Rainbows normally connote something joyous and positive, but it is put together with "death", making it an oxymoron altogether. It gives the reader suspense as they will wonder, a death due to a rainbow? In the end, they will realise that it is true, death due to the different agent colours.
Next, "death potpourri" is also an oxymoron. Death is used to show something negative, which is described with something solemn. However, Hubert uses "potpourri", something fragrant. He should be being sarcastic at this point, showing that death can be so colourful and pleasant, caused by the different agent colours, but it is untrue that death will be colourful and pleasant.
On the other hand, emphasis of words are used in this poem. Hubert writes the word "WILL" in capital letters. This is to place emphasis on the line itself, showing that the subsequent generations will definitely have to suffer due to the effects of the war and America's rash actions of using Agent Orange.
Lastly, Hubert displays America in a negative light, saying that America was "led astray" and that she uses "deceit". This is showing how much Hubert disapproves of America and is furious about the fact that America used the extremely harmful Agent Orange.
Personal Response
Hubert is trying to criticise America in this poem, showing how it "did not foresee" the "execrable effects of agent orange spray". He also says that America is "omnipotent and [disregards] who will mourn", showing how heartless America is, causing great harm in the war, to subsequent generations who are innocent people as well. Hubert is trying to make known to everyone how America's actions could affect the world greatly and hopes that war will not enfold again, because the war does not end when it has ended. The damages carry on to subsequent generations. He wants to show that war is nothing but harm to both sides and there is no absolute victory, because both sides will have a huge amount of suffering after a war. I personally sympathise with all the Agent Orange victims, "all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead" and that those "generations untold WILL pay". I support Hubert in feeling that America should be held responsible for this great damage done. If it was not for America, the damages wouldn't have been so dire for both sides. I feel that his main message here is to say that war is harmful and war should not occur, and I totally support his view about war, because war causes great damages and if war doesn't erupt, the world will have a much better peace and people will not be subjected to such gruesome suffering.
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