The Man He Killed
Thomas Hardy
1840 to 1928
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"Had he and I but met
By some old inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
many a nipperkin!
"But ranged as infantry,
And staring to face,
I shot at him as he at me,
And killed him in his place.
"I shot him because —
Because he was my foe,
Just so: foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although
"He thought he'd 'list, perhaps,
Off-hand like — just I —
Was out of work — had sold traps —
No other reason why.
"Yes; quaint and war is!
You shoot a fellow down
You'd treat met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown."
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