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