Sarcasm is a form of verbal irony that involves using language to convey the opposite of what is actually meant, often with a mocking or scornful tone. In the poem, phrases like "heroding the masses with imperatives" suggest that the leaders are acting like King Herod, known for his authoritarian and oppressive rule, thus ridiculing their style of governance. Similarly, "feeding the hungry with 21-gun salutes" sarcastically implies that the leaders are celebrating symbolic victories or gestures instead of addressing real issues such as hunger and poverty.