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 if met where any bar is,

Or help to half-a-crown.’

1902