(Answer: April 16, 2013) This poem is about the senseless civilian murders that occur during war, as well as the perceived meaninglessness of war itself. The poet uses this incident as a vehicle through which to discuss the Civil War and its effects on society. There are several themes running throughout "The Battle-Pieces." One is the idea that war is a terrible thing that destroys everything in its path. Another is the concept of fate or destiny. Many people believe that every event in one's life is preordained; some even go so far as to say that everything that happens is for a reason. With respect to the latter point, many soldiers who encounter death while fighting in a war feel like it was their duty to do so. However, few soldiers would choose to die in order to protect their country. The poet uses these ideas together to suggest that war is an evil that should be avoided at all costs, but that some events are beyond our control. Finally, the poem questions whether or not the deaths suffered by both soldiers and civilians during wars are in fact meaningless. Some people believe that nothing can truly harm or affect them once they have crossed over into death, while others claim that their lives were worth living even though they were hard ones.