Memorial Day

[mckenzee]

I can’t remember/find the poem I wanted to post, which has some great lines. “Last night I did a man to death...” “fell to the ground, an object, a thing for crows...” "wait for him in vain, woman I do not know" those aren’t quite, right. The title is something similar to “In Brunnenburg” Any ideas?

Instead, you get this:


The Man He Killed
by Thomas Hardy

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.