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--he 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.

This poem is typical Hardy, finding the ironic and tragic in real life.  He is most well known for his novels, such as Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Jude the Obscure and Far From the Madding Crowd.  However, his skill as a poet was as verite as his skill as a prose author. 

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