Poem SPM - Are You Still Playing Flute?

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.

Thanks toMalaysian Student, you can view the poet’s opinion regarding her own poem http://zurinahhassan.blogspot.com/2010/05/masihkah-kau-bermain-serulingare-you.html

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’