The Man he Killed

The Man he Killed
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.