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