The poem expresses the speaker's longing to hear the beautiful music of a flute player in their village. It describes how the flute player's melody touched the speaker's heart by being composed of the artist's breath and fingers. However, the speaker feels guilty for longing for the music while their village has become deserted and the rice fields are sick. Additionally, the speaker's conscience is disturbed by unemployment, political divisions in their people, and violence in the world.

1. 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.
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013

2. Stanza 1
1. How does she feel about his music?
2. How is the flute played? Using your own words, describe how the flute is
played?
3. In your opinion, why does the melody of the flute touch the persona’s heart?
4. What is so distinctive about the melody from the flute?
5. What kind of feeling is expressed by the persona in the poem?
6. What musical instrument is the poet’s friend playing?
7. Where is the flautist playing his flute?
8. Which line says that the persona wants to hear the flute-playing?
9. Which lines in stanza 1 tell you that the flutist plays the flute beautifully?
10. Which phrase implies how much the music affected the poet?
11. Which two lines describe how the melody is produced?
12. Who is feeling guilty? Why?
13. Why does the persona ask if the flute player is still playing his flute?
14. Why does the persona feel guilty? Why do you think she feels this way?
15. Why is the persona still thinking of her beloved?
16. Why is the word longing used to describe the persona’s feeling?
17. Write down the line which shows that the persona thinks highly of his music?
18. Write down two words from the poem which is related to the flute?
Stanza 2
19. Describe the village.
20. What activities does the persona think has become a luxury?
21. What activity does the persona think has become a luxury?
22. What do evening rays refer to?
23. What does the word deserted mean?
24. What does the word here refer to?
25. Where do you think the persona is likely to be?
26. Where does the flutist play his flute?
27. Which word shows that the paddy fields are not productive?
28. Which words would you use to describe the persona’s village?
29. Why does the rice fields are deserted?
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013

3. 30. Why is the rice field described as sick?
31. Why is the village so quiet and deserted?
32. Write down two words to describe the village.
Stanza 3
33. Do you agree with the persona’s view of the world?
34. In your opinion, does the persona feel depressed about this world? Give your
reasons.
35. In your own words, explain the meaning of this stanza.
36. What are the problems faced by the persona?
37. What is the meaning of the metaphor slaughtered mercilessly?
38. What two words does the persona use to describe the world?
39. Which line implies how much the music affected the poet?
40. Which line in this stanza suggests violence?
41. Who are you in this stanza?
42. Why is the persona’s conscience disturbed?
43. Write down two things that trouble the poet?
Free response
44. Apart from the luxuries mentioned in this poem, state two things you would
consider as luxury.
45. Have you been involved in a similar fashion over any interest or hobby?
46. Image that you are the persona. How do you feel about the flautist? Why?
47. The flute is made of bamboo. Can you think of other two other objects made of
bamboo?
48. What kind of a person do you think is the flute player?
49. What would you enjoy doing for pleasure?
50. Why do you think the poet says “While here it is a luxury to spend time
watching the rain”? Give reason for your answer?
Mokhzani/kv shas kuala lipis/2013