Remembrance of War - IV

THE MAN HE KILLED

   'Had he and I but met
   By some old ancient inn
We should have sat 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 uif met where any bar is,
   Or help to half-a-crown.'

- Thomas Hardy