Man He Killed E-book

                                      1902 

                               THE MAN HE KILLED

                                by Thomas Hardy








Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)



             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
-
-
                        THE END