The Man He Killed by Thomas Hardy

The poem "The Man He Killed" by Thomas Hardy is located on page 710 of our textbook. I chose this poem because it is has both an audible voice and I can actually visualize what is occurring which makes it easier for me to understand. The audible voice in this poem seems to to be speaking with the man he killed. If they had met at some other time or place, other than in war, they could have been friends. But instead they are at war against each other. They don't know why. He kills the man because he is his enemy because of war. I like line 13 "He thought he'd 'list, perhaps, Off-hand-like-just as I". This show that he is feels he is no different than the man he killed. They both enlisted and are now a victim of their circumstances. I also can hear in the tone of this poem, regret. In the last stanza "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." This tells me that he may not agree with war. He is killing people that he could have just as well been sitting in a tavern having a drink with if there wasn't a war.