We Willed It Not

By: John Drinkwater

Narrated by: Phillip J. Mather

The narrator pledges to donate 50% of his proceeds to The Royal British Legion Poppy Day Appeal - please support. "We Willed It Not" by John Freeman (1882-1937) was published in Poems of the Great War in 1914 on behalf of The Prince of Wales' national Relief Fund.

Public Domain (P)2014 Phillip J. Mather

One Of the Best War Poems I've Listened To

What made the experience of listening to We Willed It Not the most enjoyable?

This poem is a call to the Germans, and not to many poems of the period were thus addressed. The poet assures the Germans that England had no desire on their land, property, rights, and that Englishman wanted peace. He states a common cultural heritage and berates the Germans and Austrians for behaving as barbarians.

This is not a war that England wanted, but now it will have to fight.

What did you like best about this story?

The historical references and the excellent narration were this piece best parts.

Which character – as performed by Phillip J. Mather – was your favorite?

The entire reading was superb.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It is one of the finest poems read by Mr. Mather. I enjoyed it a good deal.