The man he killed
by Thomas Hardy

"Had he and I but met
By some old ancient inn,
We should have sat us down to wet
Right many a nipperkin!1

"But ranged 2 as infantry,3
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 foe4,
Just so: my foe of course he was;
That's clear enough; although

"He thought he'd 'list5, perhaps,
Off-hand like--just as I--
Was out of work--had sold his traps--
No other reason why.

"Yes; quaint6 and curious war is!
You shoot a fellow7 down
You'd treat8 if met where any bar is,
Or help to half-a-crown9."

1.  to drink many small glasses of wine	
2. arranged
3. Foot soldiers
4. enemy
5. enlist = join the army
6. strange
7. man
8. treat to a drink = buy a drink for
9. give some money to if necessary

If we had met in some bar, we would have been friends and drunk together, but because we are soldiers, we try to kill each other. I shot him because he was the enemy. He joined the army because, like me, he had no work. How strange war is:  We fight and kill men that we would sit and buy a drink in the bar with, or help him if he needed money.

Is the last stanza true? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, what are your thoughts?