Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

by Zurinah Hassan

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.


Are you still playing your flute?
In the village so quiet and deserted
Amidst the sick rice fields
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.


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.

SYNOPSIS

The poet is about a lady’s feelings concerning her partner who looks more interested in playing the flute which seems to be his passion. He is seemingly oblivious to what is happening to his family, relatives and friends. The lady feels guilty about imposing on him.

THEMES

• Family commitments
• Priorities in life
• Neglect of one’s duties

MORAL VALUES

• We should be aware of our family commitments and carry them out properly.
• Everyone has priorities in, life and we should know what is important and what is not.
• Following a hobby is good but there is a time for work and a time for play.

POINT OF VIEW

• The poem is the first point of view.
• The person is addressing another person and describing a situation to him.

LANGUAGE AND STLYE

• Rhetorical question
• Descriptive and questioning
• Simple style and no rhyme

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE

• Sombre and regretful
• Serious atmosphere

POETIC DEVICES

• Imagery – e.g. ‘blown by the wind’, ‘depth of my heart’
• Alliteration – e.g. ‘fragrance of flowers’
• Symbol – e.g. ‘flute’, ‘song’
• Repetition – e.g. ‘Are you still playing your flute?’
• Figurative Language – Metaphor e.g. ‘The melody concealed in the slime hollow of bamboo – Personification e.g. ‘sick rice field’