We are doomed to hurt those we love
The sentence from above was uttered by the narrator time and time again throughout the poem. The idea presented here is also an ironic one because the narrator is almost saying to his readers that no matter how hard they try, they will never be able to protect their loved ones and what is worse, the most pain a person will have to suffer and go through will be caused by someone they love and care for deeply.
Happier in prison
A big portion of the poem focuses on the inmates and more precisely, on describing their state of mind. What is ironic in these descriptions is that even though the characters are in prison, they are happy. What is more, a big majority of the prisoners feel a lot happier in prison than they did when they were free.
Scared of death
One of the characters mentioned in the poem was awaiting his death. This man was sitting all day with the rest of the inmates and the narrator described the impact this event had on everyone. The prisoners who were not sentenced to death were extremely scared and in a constant state of stress. Ironically, however, the man who was sentenced to death seemed normal, going through his day as if nothing of great importance was going to take place.
The night before
Another ironic scene is presented as having taken place the night before the prisoner was scheduled for his execution. The narrator recalls how almost no one was able to sleep that particular night and how all the prisoners were thinking about the man who was going to be executed. Ironically, however, the narrator describes that one person was able to sleep, namely the man who was going to be executed. This transmitted the idea that the man in question did not care at all about his fate.
Punishment does not end here
Another ironic idea is presented at the end of the story when the narrator describes what the guards did to the recently deceased convict. Instead, of simply burying the body, the guards took a sick pleasure in mutilating the body before finally setting it on fire. This is seen as ironic for the inmates who believed that punishment ends with death. This scene proved to them however that it was not the case.
