Part 1

What are we fighting for?

 by Brian Moses

What are we fighting for?

We have to do or die.

What are we fighting for?

We can’t turn a blind eye.

What are we fighting for?

To sleep safely in bed.

What are we fighting for?

To keep away fear and dread.

What are we fighting for?

To keep our children free.

What are we fighting for?

To choose our own destiny.

What are we fighting for?

Because there’s nowhere else to hide.

What are we fighting for?

Because so many have died.

What are we fighting for?

To challenge oppression.

What are we fighting for?

To combat aggression.

What are we fighting for?

To win us the war.

What are we fighting for?

So there won’t be any more.

What are we fighting for?

So that we can make sure.

What are we fighting for?

It’s a war to end war.

What are we fighting for?

So we’ll never need to say.

What are we fighting for?

Again.

Read the poem by Brian Moses, which he wrote about World War II. Read it aloud several times - you could ask someone to read it to you as you read the words - or listen to a recording of Brian Moses reading the poem (poetry is usually written to be listened to rather than read). Answer these questions: you might not be able to think of answer straight away - why don’t you email or contact a friend and discuss the answers?

(I have colour-coded each question to match the line it is referring to - I hope this helps)

Brian Moses performing the poem

What are we fighting for?

We can’t turn a blind eye.

What does it mean if someone turns a blind eye?

What does this mean in the poem (turn a blind eye from what?)

What are we fighting for?

To keep away fear and dread.

Fear and dread of what?

What are we fighting for?

To keep our children free.

What did people want to keep their children from / free to do?

What are we fighting for?

To choose our own destiny.

What is destiny? What does this line suggest about people’s fears?

What are we fighting for?

To challenge oppression.

What is oppression?

What oppression were people challenging?

Why do you think the poem repeats the line What are we fighting for? What effect does this have on the reader or listener.

Now look at the rhyming structure to the poem: we can hear the rhyme but can you identify a pattern? For each set of rhyming words, give a letter. I have started below to show you what I mean:

What are we fighting for?

We have to do or die. A

What are we fighting for?

We can’t turn a blind eye. A

What are we fighting for?

To sleep safely in bed. B

What are we fighting for?

To keep away fear and dread. B

It is difficult to include rhyme in a poem and ensure that it has a strong impact. A poet will sometimes create a bank of rhyming words and select words that fit best.

Your task this week is to write a poem. You could write it about World War II or you could write it based on your lockdown experience. I wonder what your repeating question will be? Here are some suggestions:

What are we marching for?

What are we sending our children away for?

What are we hiding for?

What are we staying indoors for?

What are we keeping distance for?

What are we staying alert for?

You could, of course, choose your own question.

Ensure you include a rhyming pattern - you will need to choose and edit and change words to make sure the poem is the best it can be. You might find that a good rhyming words comes to mind hours after you have finished so don't expect to complete this in one go!

Part 2

 

We're now going to think about anti-war songs, which are also known as resistance or protest songs.

Read the lyrics to the song War by Edwin Starr. It was released in 1969 during the Vietnam war. (You can listen to the song later)

I wonder how you might perform these lyrics? Think about your tone and volume - you might even include actions. Practise performing - you could record your voice or even film yourself performing it - I wonder if your performance will be similar or different to the way that Brian Moses reads his poem in the YouTube clip above. If you email a video or audio recording then your parent must include a message to say that they give permission for the video or audio recording to be posted on our class website.

 

Listen to the song

How does this compare with your performance?

There are many contemporary (modern) songs about war - often called protest or resistance songs. What does this imply about the nature of the songs?

Here are some:

 'Nelson Mandela' by The Specials

 'Imagine' by John Lennon

  'What's going on?' by Marvin Gaye

   'Another brick in the wall' by Pink Floyd

 'Blowing in the Wind' by Bob Dylan

Your task now is to write your own protest / resistance song. It could be about war or about COVID-19 and lockdown. Can you compose a tune for your song? Perhaps you have family members who could help you.

Email me the lyrics to your song. You could send an audio recording or a video of you singing or performing it - perhaps you have a dance to go with the song. Remember, if you email a video or audio recording then your parent must include a message to say that they give permission for the video or audio recording to be posted on our class website.