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.”