On July 11, 1921, a truce was agreed between the British government and the Irish republicans, ending the Irish War of Independence. The truce, which was brokered after months of negotiations, brought an end to the guerrilla warfare that had devastated Ireland. The truce was a prelude to the Anglo-Irish Treaty negotiations, which would determine the future of Ireland.

The truce is a subject of cautious hope in Irish poetry, with writers expressing relief at the end of the violence. The truce is often contrasted with the earlier failures of the independence movement, suggesting a new phase in Irish history. The poetry of the period reflects the complex emotions of the moment, as nationalists looked towards the future with both hope and uncertainty.