Title of Poem : Are

You Still Playing Your Flute

Setting: Paraphrase:
Rural Malay village peaceful / tranquil / beautiful The urban life discord, power play,

unemployment

Point of View: First person point of view I and my

Tone & Mood Nostalgic : Misses the song of the flute The beauty of the village The flutist himself Worried / Anxious: Of changes in the society Of Urban problems

Language and Style

Simile Personification
the sick rice field , this world is too old and bleeding

THEMES: Family commitments Changes in life Love and appreciation of the arts Imagery Contrast of the
village and the town

POEM 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 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

LITERAL MEANING The persona wonders whether the flutist is still playing his flute. She is feeling guilty for longing to the beautiful song she used to hear.

EMBEDED MEANING People always have to move on study or work purposes. Different places have different scenarios and values. At times we may sometimes long and remember the unforgettable moments or memory especially the beautiful one. The Sometimes, we persona wonder still whether the wonders place we left is about the still practicing flutist. the same values or has The village they changed. is now abandoned. Many people who moved to At present the city have she is in forgotten the the city. traditional The values that persona they were missed the brought up in. beauty of The urban nature lifestyle is while she demanding was in the village. People sometimes have forgotten

Nostalgic Sentimental Longing Homesick wistful

Admiration Appreciation

Comparison Making judgements

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 once again question about the flutist. She feels guilty for always thinking of the flutist. The unemploy ment is a nationwide problem. There is also political instability. Abroad, there are wars.

the simple lifestyle they used to enjoy once ago. The traditional and simple village lifestyle may seem trivial. The demanding urban lifestyle has affected many people as they may involve their family, friends and people who are closer to them. There are economic, political and social problems affecting the nation and the world.

Anxious Uneasy Apprehensive