Poet's Use of Mockery As Diction in Poem The poet's use of mockery as diction conveys his disillusioned attitude toward the men that plan the battles without actually fighting in them. Using the words “If I were fierce, and bald, and short of breath,” to describe the majors allows the reader to picture the majors as old, fat, out of shape men that spend their days “guzzling and gulping in the best hotel” safe from any danger. Fierce, bald and short of breath give the reader a negative feel for the majors as they are not described in any positive manner. These terms cause the reader to feel disgust for the majors. The poets use of the words guzzling and gulpi