Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

Zurinah Hassan was born on 13 June 1949 in Alor Setar, Kedah.

B.A.Hons (USM), M.A. (UPM). PhD (UM). She is currently a Consultant in The Academy of Malay Studies , University of Malaya

She has published not less than two anthologies of short stories and six collections of poetries. Her work has been translated into several languages including English, Spanish and Russian

S.E.A. Write Award in 2004 Awarded the title of Sunthorn Phu Poet Laureate, the Poetry Prize for ASEAN countries in 2013.

 The persona is thinking about someone she was close to and who plays the flute. She longs to hear the wonderful soothing music that had touched her heart a long time ago. She wonders if he is still playing his flute in their village that is now empty and quiet. She feels troubled that she should be thinking of him and her past while people around her are suffering and her world is changing.

Are You Still Playing Your Flute?

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.

Literal Meaning

The persona wonders whether the person she is thinking of is till playing his flute . She feels guilty for wanting to hear his song; a song that is composed when he blows on the bamboo instrument , a song that touches her heart.

Figurative Meaning In life, we sometimes have to change our way of life due to work or family circumstances. From a lifestyle filled with values and traditions like in the village to embracing a totally different lifestyle in the city. However, we may sometimes long for our previous life with its unforgettable moments.

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.

Literal Meaning

The persona wonders in a questioning tone whether is the person is still playing his flute. The paddy fields and the village where she used to stay are now deserted. At the same time, the persona is in a place where she finds it difficult to enjoy her surrounding beauty.

Figurative Meaning The persona wonders if the values and traditions in her village are still being upheld, since many people have left the place. At her current place, she finds life passing by quickly and there is hardly any time for her to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

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.

Literal Meaning The persona wonders, this time with a slight urgency, whether the person is still playing his flute. The memory of him is disturbing her conscience. At the same time, she is worried about her brothers who are jobless, her friend who was killed and the political situation in the country that has divided her people.

Figurative Meaning The persona feels uncomfortable that she keeps thinking about trivial matters such as customs traditions, and her village when at present, troubles abound. There are unemployment, disharmony and merciless killings. She feels the world is changing for the worse.

VERSIFICATIONS AND SOUND PATTERNS

Versifications
a) It has 3 stanzas of unequal length
b) 1st stanza consist of 9 lines

c) Stanza 2 and 3 have 8 lines

Sound patterns
The poem is free or blank verse with no fixed rhyme scheme and metrical pattern.

Setting
The poem is set in a rural Malay village, which undergoing a change. It is a quiet and deserted village. The paddy field looked barren. Nevertheless, the luxuries such as watching the rain, gazing the evening rays, collecting dew drops and enjoying the fragnce of flowers, still exists in the rural.

Point of View
The poem is the first point of view The persona uses the pronoun 'I' and 'my The persona is reflecting on her past and feeling uneasy about the present.

Themes
Values and traditions - Values and traditions have an important role in our life. They teach us to live correctly and to hold on to our principles in life. We learn to value life, family and friends. A society without values and traditions is colorless and loses its direction. Changes in life - Nothing stays the same forever and that includes life. Life changes over time. These changes affect every aspect of our lives and may have positive and negative consequences.

Family commitments - Everyone has family commitments, whether it is to our immediate family members or extended family members. Be aware of these commitments as they bind a family together. Priorities in life - There are important and unimportant things in life. Learn to differentiate them and make plans accordingly.

Enjoying the simple pleasure of life - Nature surrounds us and the beauty of nature offers us the simple pleasures of life. The rising sun, the moon and stars, the rainfall and dew are some of the pleasures that nature offers. Enjoy them and enjoy life.

Passionate about one's interest - When we are really interested in a hobby, we will become passionate about it. It helps us to mature as this passion helps us to stay focused. We learn to be creative too. But, we should not let this passion become an obsession.

Moral Values
We should learn to appreciate the values and traditions of society and family. They give us balance in life and help us to differentiate between the good and the bad. We face changes in life every day. Learn to accept changes but only if they are for the good of society. If they are beneficial, work around them for the general good.

 Our family is the most important thing in our life. We should put their interest and safety first before anything else. Show consideration for one's duties within the home and carry out family commitments responsibly.
We should know our priorities in life and be aware of them at all times. Don't get so taken in by our interests that we forget our priorities. Passion for interests should not be at expense of family happiness. There is a time for work and a time for play.

Sound devices Alliterations dew drops, fragrance of flowers Assonance Sick rice field Personification Sick rice field the rice field is personified as a human who is not feeling well. This world is too old and bleeding the planet is personified as suffering from a wound. Repetition 'Are you still playing your flute?' - repeated at the beginning of all three stanzas to reinforce the emotion behind the question and to create a dramatic effect.

Symbols a) flute - symbolizes a thing of the past, something tradition b) song - symbolizes the simple pleasure of life Rhetorical Question Are you still playing your flute? - the persona asks a question to which she does not expect a reply. Metaphor a) The melody concealed in the slim hollow of the bamboo' The song seems to be hidden in the bamboo when it is actually coming out from the playing of the flute.

b)

The world is too old and bleeding' The world seems to have aged due to war and the sufferings caused by it.

Imageries a) Imagery of sight 'so quiet and deserted': This gives a clear picture of a lonely village with hardly anyone around. 'slaughtered mercilessly': Many lives were lost in the war.

b)

Imagery of feelings 'depth of my heart': The persona feels deeply and wants to hear the song played by the flautist. 'longing for your song': The persona has a deep desire to hear songs. Imagery of touch 'collecting dew drops: Someone is putting their hands together to collect dew drops to feel the water
Imagery of smell 'enjoying the fragrance of flowers': The flowers are emitting fragrant scent. Imagery of sound playing your flute: The music comes from the flute. 'blown by the wind: The sound of wind and music

c)

d)

a)

Language and Style

Language Simple and easy to understand. Play of words to add interest. Style Clear. Descriptive. Inquiring.

Mood Hopeless The persona does not know what to do about her circumstances. Tone Somber and regretful The persona is longing for something she suspects is already gone. The persona reminisces about her peaceful past and compares it to the troubled present that she is facing.