Home Learning Task 1

Task 1

Based on your understanding of the selected poem, perform extensive web research and write a report on your blog detailing the conflict represented in the poem(s) of your choice. Bear in mind that this piece of background information will allow your blog audience to further understand the poem as well as your analysis of the poem in Task 2. Be sure to include your references and credit your sources.

Rainbow Death

America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colours 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!

In this post, I would be writing a report about a poem entitled “Rainbow death. The poem is about the types of gas used in chemical warfare. In the first stanza, the phrase “green, pink, purple and other colours death potpourri” tell us that there are many different types of gas that can be used to kill. In the second stanza, the last three lines tell us a bit about the notorious gas known as Agent Orange.

We know that millions of veterans are dealing with the after effects of Agent Orange, called such because of the Orange band painted around the barrels. During the war, the Military colour coded their ordnance: yellow meant explosive, red meant chemical, blue meant inert (training rounds), black was armour piercing. Those colours might be modified into other categories.

Thus, I think that the poet wrote this poem to tell us about the negative effects of chemical warfare and how its effects last even after the war. He is also trying to discourage the use of chemicals in war as it harms the civilians.

Below is the author's thoughts of his poem.

I am a Vietnam War veteran (as are my four brothers) who served in the USAF Security Service. I, along with a dozen or so intelligence school grads, prepped for about 14 months at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, before anticipating being sent to Vietnam or elsewhere in southeat Asia in 1970. About half ended up in Da Nang (an Agent Orange hotspot) in the 6924th Security Squadron. The rest of us were assigned to Shemya Island, Alaska, with the 6984th Security Squadron, and what eventually was a MORE contaminated environment than Da Nang!
My health problems started approximately 15 years ago with unexplained headaches and limb pains. Four years ago my central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors, severe headaches, progressive limb pains, etc. No physician has ever diagnosed the specific illness. NO VA physician has ever rendered ANY medical assistance! My number one educated guess is the heavily contaminated drinking water at Shemya during my year there as an intelligence analyst. Organo-phosphate toxins may not run their toxic course until 20 to 30 years after initial exposure.

Since my brain still functions moderately well (and I have mobility issues), I have turned to writing just like my late Father and the late singer (and writer) Johnny Cash.

Hubert Wilson.

Any comments?

Dickson

( References: http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/2010warpoetry.html#Rainbow,

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_were_the_effects_of_the_chemicals_in_the_vietnam_war)