Post 22: Irony

E. E. Cummings poem "next to of course god america i" is filled with irony in reference to patriotism to our country and us going to war. He writes "why talk of beauty what could be more beautiful than our heroic happy dead" which is saying that our beautiful country sends our soldiers to die so they can be called heroes. The dead feels no emotions so calling them happy is ironic.
XTC does the same in their song "dear god". The lyrics are a letter to God and the first verse begins with "Dear God", but then it ends with "I can't believe in you." If one is atheist why write a letter to God?