"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." | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WALKING HOME AT NIGHT; HUSBAND TO WIFE by WILLIAM BARNES FIAMMETTA: SONNET. TO DANTE IN PARADISE by GIOVANNI BOCCACCIO PUSSY WILLOWS by ELIZABETH BRADY MY POLITICAL FAITH by GEORGE FREDERICK CAMERON GROAT NOR TESTER by WALTER JOHN DE LA MARE |