By Zurinah Hassan

ARE YOU STILL PLAYING YOUR FLUTE

The Poet
Date / Place of birth : 13 June 1949, Alor Setar Kedah. Permanent address : No.2, Jalan Pinggir, 8/1L, Seksyen 8, 40000 Shah Alam since 1974. Academic Qualifications : B.A.Hons (Universiti Sains Malaysia), M.A. (Universiti Putra Malaysia). Doktor Falsafah, Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya. Awards : Anugerah Penulisan Asia Tenggara (S.E.A. Write Award) 2004 Book Category Award: i- Pujangga Tidak Bernama, Hadiah Sastera Perdana(1994/1995) ii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi, Hadiah Buku Perpustakaan Negara 2002/2004) iii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi , Hadiah Sastera Perdana 2002/2003.

MASIHKAH KAU BERMAIN SERULING

Masihkah kau bermain seruling walau waktu telah terlewat untuk kita bercinta aku semakin terasa bersalah melayani godaan irama lagu yang tersimpan pada lorong halus buluh dikeluarkan oleh nafas seniman diukir oleh bibir diatur oleh jari dilayangkan oleh alun angin menolak ke dasar rasa. Masihkah kau bermain seruling ketika kampung semakin sunyi sawah telah uzur waktu jadi terlalu mahal untuk memerhatikan hujan turun merenung jalur senja mengutip manik embun menghidu harum bunga.
Masihkah kau bermain seruling ketika aku terasa mata bersalah untuk melayani rasa rindu padamu di kota yang semakin kusut dan tenat adik-adikku menganggur dan sakit jiwa bangsaku dipecahkan oleh politik saudara diserang bom-bom ganas dunia sudah terlalu tua dan parah.

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

Are you still playing your flute?

The persona asks the flutist sarcastically. `flute represents a world without trouble. the person who plays the flute = flautist (UK) flutist (US)

I am feeling guilty to be longing for your song

The persona feels

guilty because she is still longing for the flutists song.

When there is hardly time for our love

The persona and the flutist are apart from each other

The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo

`The bamboo = the flute `melody = creativity & pleasure of life.

Uncovered by the breath of an artist Composed by his fingers Blown by the wind To the depth of my heart
The persona knows the flutist very well (maybe

they were old friends). She could describe how the flutist playing the flute. (line 3) The song remains in her heart / she is touched by the song.

Stanza 2
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

Are you still playing your flute?

The persona asks for the 2nd time to the flutist sarcastically.

In the village so quiet and deserted

The village is so quiet and under populated.

Amidst the sick rice field

The rice field is barren since nobody is working for it. It is not fertilized anymore unhappy situation.

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
`a luxury = ample time `here = the city Luxurious activities: 1. spending time watching the rain 2. Gazing the evening rays 3. collecting dew drops 4. enjoying the fragrance of flowers.

Evening rays

Dew drops

Stanza 3
Are you still playing your flute? The more it disturbs my conscience to be thinking of you in the hazard of this city 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?

The persona asks for the 3rd time to the flutist sarcastically.

The more it disturbs my conscience to be thinking of you in the hazard of this city
`it = the song of the flutist `hazard = problem/danger The persona is annoyed with the song since

the nation is facing many problems.

The problems/turbulance of the city:

1. Young men are jobless/unemployed and

desperate. 2. People are divided (`disunited) by politics 3. People/friends were killed mercilessly

This world is too old and bleeding

Nearly end and terrible too much. The earth is hopeless and suffering.

THEMES
1. Family commitments the persona feels worry when

her brothers are not able to find jobs (unemployed). Line : my younger brothers unemployed 2. Priorities in life the persona thinks that the flutist should be thinking more to the village than playing the flute. The village which becomes under populated might be because many of the villagers prefer to work in the cities and left the rice field untouched. Line: Are you still playing your flute?
In the village so quiet and deserted

3. Neglect of ones duties Following a hobby is good

but there is a time for work and a time for play. Line: To spend time watching the rain
Gazing at the evening rays Collecting dew drops Or enjoying the fragrance of flowers

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. We should divide our time fairly. 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 - `Are you still playing

your flute? the persona asks a question to which she does not expect a reply.
Descriptive and questioning Simple style and no rhyme

TONE, MOOD AND ATMOSPHERE

Sombre and regretful Serious atmosphere

SOUND DEVICES
Alliteration: `dew drops, `fragrance of flowers

Assonance: sick rice field

POETIC DEVICES
Literary Devices
Personification
`this world is bleeding `flute Symbol The earth is suffering Thing a past, traditional

Example
sick rice field

Meaning
The rice field is not well

`song
Repetition `Are you still playing your flute? `the melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo `the world is too old and bleeding

Simple pleasures of life

To reinforce the emotion behind the question

Metaphor

The song seems to be hidden in the bamboo

The world is aged and suffered because of war

POETIC DEVICES
Literary Devices Senses sight feelings Imagery touch smell sound Meaning `so quiet and deserted `slaughtered mercilessly `depth of my heart `longing for your song `collecting dew drops `enjoying the fragrance of flowers `playing your flute `blown by the wind