Selected Poems, Linton Kwesi Johnson : All Wi Doin is Defendin

Selected Poems -  Linton Kwesi Johnson


All Wi Doin is Defendin   pg. 11

      In this poem the people cannot run away from standing ground and must face another war, while defending themselves only with bare hands. These fights are compared to warfare where the extent of suffering had no limitation and the impact of inflicted injury is severe since it has affected the victims' souls. One war after the other it made no difference as the people are fighting for their freedom up against the riot squad. The results of the turmoil are gruesome because the destruction of mankind is created through separation and violence. Mankind exists to thrive together with culture, music and people in order to continue living. The peoples' voices are important and not a single moment is spent on waiting for something to happen. The exertion against authority is pointless unless peace will remain in effect.
      The length of the poem is about four minutes and has a quitain structure. There is repetition found in two stanzas, similar to a chorus. A lot of rhyme occurs in the poem and shifts between dimeter and trimeter. There is a combination in short and long lines that dictate the speed of reading. A lot of verbs go at the end of the lines to create emphasis onto the action occurring in the poem.