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 the 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 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

Are You Still Playing Your Flute...

The poem "Are You Still Playing Your Flute" is told from a first person point of view. In this poem the
persona, recalls her feeling of guilt, missing the beautiful melody of the bamboo flute played by her
beloved long ago.

She later questions and doubts if the flute is still being played now, as the village is now under
populated and the paddy field is in a lamentable state. She mentions that, nowadays, relaxing and
enjoying the beauty of nature is a rare luxury.

In the final stanza, she questions for the third time, whether her beloved is still playing the flute. This
time around, she admits that she couldnt help but on the contrary, she feels guilty to be thinking of
their love at their difficult times.

The hardships portrayed here are unemployed young men, people alienated by politics and a dying
world.

Setting

The poem is set in a rural Malay village, which is undergoing a change. It is quiet and uninhabited village.
The paddy fields looked forsaken. Nevertheless, the 'luxuries', such as watching the rain, gazing at the
evening rays, collecting dew drops and enjoying the fragrance of the flower, still exist in the rural.

Themes

Conform To Changes - We cannot run away from changes or be ignorant about them. We need to adapt
ourselves to all kinds of economic, social and political changes.In this poem, the flutist is only concerned
about playing his flute,uninterested to the changes happening around him.

Things are greener on the other side - Young people have the tendency to think that the pasture is
always greener in other places or countries than their hometown or village.They migrate to towns or
cities in search for a better life but in reality it can be the total opposite.The poem shows how youths in

the village are willing to forget their roots. Materialism drives them to migrate to cities in hope of
getting a well paying job but left unemployed. Friendship becomes foreign when life becomes
desperate.People are disunited due to political differences.

Appreciating Arts - We must appreciate and love our culture and way of life, especially things pertaining
to arts. In this poem it is potrayed through the persona and the flutists. The flutists loves to play his
flute, which is made from the local bamboo tree. He produces beautiful melody through this simple
instrument.His melodious tune still captivates the persona eventhough she now resides in the city.One
part of her deeply yearns to hear his music again but on the other hand she feels guilty having such
desire.