The best response to how the context of the Civil War affects the meaning of the poem's first two lines is:
The speaker responds to someone, likely not involved in the war, who likes serene poetry.
This interpretation aligns with the idea that the speaker is addressing a reader who seeks the traditional, peaceful verses of a civilian poet, contrasting with the harsh realities of war that demand a different approach to poetry. The Civil War's context emphasizes the disconnect between the peaceful desires of the civilian audience and the tumultuous experiences of those involved in the war.