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Tuesday 26 June 2012

The Man He Killed-Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)---The Futility of War


“Had he and I but met
By some ole 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.”


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