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.’