Had he and we but met,
In some ordinary English lesson,
We would be quiet and sat,
And just pay some serious attention!
But ranged as actors,
And staring face to face,
We practice before him as he do the tutors,
And correct our errors in our place.
We salute him because-
Because he was our coach,
A professional coach he was,
With a close and friendly approach.
He'd thought we'd lose, perhaps,
Fall short a bit-just as we,
But when the surprise unwraps,
We would shout in glee.
Yes; grateful and appreciate we felt!
You lead us till this day,
You'd refuse, if we express our heartfelt,
Or simply walked away.------A adapted and altered version from Thomas Hardy's The Man He Killed:
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 — 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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