Poet's Corner

"The Man He Killed"

Thomas Hardy

Poem explanation

1         "Had he and I but met



          By some old ancient inn,



     We should have sat us down to wet



          Right many a nipperkin!





5         "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 — 



10        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 — 



15   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,



20        Or help to half-a-crown."

Source: Exploring Poetry, Gale, 1997.