The poem is about an old soldier reflecting on his past sacrifices for his country's independence and urging the new generation to continue fighting for justice. In three sentences: The persona describes being old and weak after suffering to liberate his nation. From his wheelchair, he sees deception spreading and troubles brewing, so he calls on young people to stand united against injustice as the heirs of freedom, as he no longer has the strength to speak up himself.

1. Revision
A Fighter’s Lines
By Marzuki ALi

2. A Fighter’s Lines
by Marzuki Ali
I am old and worn
and have lost all my strength
sufferings
and the history of the fight for independence
have forced sacrifices
that know no name
or life

3. from the wheelchair of the rest of my days
I, body and energy crushed
see and cannot do much
these times are big a challenge
for the remnants of my crippled years
the net of deceit spread everywhere
disturbs me.

4. In the name of justice
Wake up and form ranks sons of our ancestor
Be brave
And erect a wall of people
Stand up heirs of our freedom
I have no more voice
It is you now who should speak!

5. Synopsis
• The persona in the poem is an old soldier.
• He is tired as he is old and weak.
• He and his people suffered in the past in their
fight for freedom of their country and they
made many sacrifices.
• People lost their lives and some remain
nameless or unknown.
PARAPHRASE
Stanza 1

6. • The persona, who believes that he will be in a
wheelchair for the rest of his life says he can only
watch the happenings around him.
• Physically, he is helpless and he has no energy
left.
• He was either seriously injured when he was a
soldier or is very ill.
• He finds that times have changed and being a
crippled man, it is too challenging for him to fight
the injustice he sees around him.
• He is troubled by the many lies being told
everywhere.
PARAPHRASEStanza 2

7. • Being highly-spirited, he calls on the younger
generation to wake up and fight on.
• They have to realize that they have to form lines
or ranks irrespective of racial, religious and social
differences to fight courageously for justice.
• He wants the young people who inherited the
country’s freedom to be united to fight injustice
and denounce lies which may threaten.
• The persona feels helpless that he is not heard.
He urges the younger generation to fight or speak
up for what is right because it is now their turn to
do so.
PARAPHRASEStanza 3

8. The Setting
• The poem is set after independence and in the
persona’s house (twentieth century). The
persona feels that the independence he has
struggled for is now threatened by subversive
elements.
Setting

9. After Independence

10. 1. A Fighter’s Lines by Marzuki Ali
a. Who do you think is the persona in this poem?
……………………………………………………………………………….
b. Which phrase in the poem is a metaphor for unity?
……………………………………………………………………………..
c. In the last line of the poem, to whom does the pronoun ‘you’
refer to?
………………………………………………………………………………..
d. What have you learnt from the poem? Explain your answer.
…………………………………………………………………………………

11. 2. A Fighter’s Lines by Marzuki Ali
a. What has the poet done for his country?
………………………………………………………………...
b. How is the condition of the poet now?
………………………………………………………………….
c. In stanza 2, what does the metaphor ‘the net of
deceit” refer to?
……………………………………………………………………..
d. How do you think we can be good citizens of our
country?
…………………………………………....................................

12. Answers
PoPoTun

13. 1. A Fighter’s Lines by Marzuki Ali
a. Who do you think is the persona in this poem?
A retired soldier
b. Which phrase in the poem is a metaphor for unity?
‘A wall of people’
c. In the last line of the poem, to whom does the pronoun ‘you’ refer to?
The persona’s countrymen
d. What have you learnt from the poem? Explain your answer.
I have learnt that it is important as citizens of this country to be united and
to work together to protect my country.

14. 2. A Fighter’s Lines by Marzuki Ali
a. What has the poet done for his country?
He has sacrificed for his country.
b. How is the condition of the poet now?
He is now wheelchair-bound/crippled/tired/old and weak.
c. In stanza 2, what does the metaphor ‘the net of deceit” refer to?
Dishonesty and corruption
d. How do you think we can be good citizens of our country?
We must carry out our duties honestly. We must be responsible people
who do what is right for the country.

15. All the best for your exam!
PoPoTun