Poquette has a bachelor's degree in English and specializes in writing about literature. In the following essay, Poquette discusses Hébert's use of colors in the poem.

One of the most noticeable aspects of Hébert's poem, "The Alchemy of Day," is its vivid imagery. The poet utilizes a number of image systems, including nature imagery, images of death, and images of Jesus. One of the most striking image systems that Hébert employs is that of color. Colors, in general, are very symbolic, and much has been written about the psychological effect of various colors on humans. Some belief systems, such as feng shui, for example, place immense importance on specific colors. For Hébert, colors are also important in the poem because they serve as a tool to help her achieve the goal that she notes in the preface to Mystere...