Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

by: Zurinah Hassan

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

Are you still playing your flute? Are you still playing the flute? When there is hardly time for our love In the village so quiet and deserted I am feeling guilty Amidst the sick rice field To be longing for your song While here it has become a luxury The melody concealed in the slim To spend time watching the rain hollow of the bamboo Gazing at the evening rays Uncovered by the breath of an artist Collecting dew drops Composed by his fingers Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers. Blown by the wind To the depth of my heart. Are you still playing your flute? The more it disturbs my conscience to be thinking of you in the hazard of you my younger brothers unemployed and desperate my people disunited by politics my friend slaughtered mercilessly this world is too old and bleeding

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? Stanza 1

Are you still playing your flute? When there is hardly time for our love I am feeling guilty To be longing for your song The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo Uncovered by the breath of an artist Composed by his fingers Blown by the wind To the depth of my heart.
The persona questions herself if

her beloved is still playing the

flute, when there is no time to show that one cares for each other. Though persona feels it is not right to yearn for his music from the flute, the tune is deeply attached to her affectionately.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? Stanza 2

Are you still playing the flute? In the village so quiet and deserted Amidst the sick rice field While here it has become a luxury To spend time watching the rain Gazing at the evening rays Collecting dew drops Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers.
The persona finds that the village had been abandoned by the villagers and the paddy fields un attended. She recalls that,

admiring the rain, staring at the

sunray during the dusk, collecting dew drops and enjoying the pleasant smell of flowers and nature had become a luxury or an advantage that you do not find anymore.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute? Stanza 3

Are you still playing your flute? The more it disturbs my conscience to be thinking of you in the hazard of you my younger brothers unemployed and desperate my people disunited by politics my friend slaughtered mercilessly this world is too old and bleeding
The persona feels guilty for yearning for the special person as her countrymen are jobless and willing to commit anything for a

job. They are separated by

different political views. People whom you care for, are brutally killed. Meanwhile the world resembles a sickly and dying old man.

WHAT THE POEM IS ABOUT

This poem is told from a first person point of view, where the persona, reminisces her feeling of guilt, missing the beautiful melody of the bamboo flute played by her beloved long ago. She later questions and wonders if the flute is still being played now, as the village is now under populated and the paddy field is in a deplorable state. She mentions that, nowadays, relaxing and savoring the beauty of nature is a rare luxury. In the final stanza, she questions for the third time, whether her beloved is still playing the flute. This time around, she admits that she couldnt help but on the contrary, she feels guilty to be thinking of their love at their difficult times. The hardships portrayed here are unemployed young men, people disunited by politics and a dying world.

STANZA 1 Setting
The poem is set in a rural Malay village, which is undergoing a change. It is a quiet and deserted village. The paddy fields looked barren. Nevertheless, the luxuries, such as watching the rain, gazing at the evening rays, collecting dew drops and enjoying the fragrance of the flower, still exist in the rural.

the end

Lets answer some questions

ANSWERs

Stanza 1
1. At whom is the question directed? The man playing the flute/ her beloved. 2. What is the problem in the relationship between the persona and the flautist? There is not enough time for them to spend their time. 3. What is meant by the phrase to the depth of my heart? Touches her soul. 4. Mention two ways in which the melody affects the persona when she thinks of it? - She longs for the melody. - She feels guilty.

Stanza 2
1. What happened to the village? The village becomes under populated and the rice fields are not fertile anymore. 2. Give three pleasurable pastimes in the countryside as mentioned in the stanza?
i. ii. iii. iv. Watch the setting sun Watch the rain coming down Collect dew drops Smell the fragrance of the flowers

Stanza 3
1. What is the mood of the persona as portrayed in the stanza? She felt frustrated and guilty. 2. What are the problems her brothers face? Unemployed and desperate. 3. What problems do you think her country is facing? Politically, the people are not united. There are economic problems and wars are going on.

Individual Exercises

Exercise 2 1. beauty 2. seasons 3. shining 4. blossom 5. bees

6. sways 7. yellow star 8. sight

Exercise 4
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. A D B B A D D A B