Channel Firing

Hardy’s “Channel Firing” maintains a pretty strict form and meter throughout the poem with only a few minor deviations. The poem contains nine stanzas of four lines, or quatrains, each line with eight syllables. Quatrains are often associated with ballads, and while the poem doesn’t adhere to the form of a ballad per se, it does mirror the form insofar as it is working to tell a story. The subtle nod to the ballad adds a satirical quality to the story the poem tells, as ballads typically tell stories of love or tragedy, and this poem describes a more whimsical tale of talking skeletons and an exasperated God. The predictable meter allows that story to be told clearly and concisely.

The consistency and organization simplify the reading experience, allowing readers to focus on the message of the poem, as opposed to getting lost in its language. The allegiance to the form creates a palpable rhythm, emulating a beating drum or marching soldiers. Just as the form repeats its own cycles, the poem details the way humanity repeats cycles of war and violence throughout the course of history.