This poem reflects on the sacrifices made by former freedom fighters for a country's independence. The persona is now old and disabled, reflecting on the struggles of his youth as a soldier. He urges the new generation to continue fighting for freedom and unity in the face of growing lies and challenges threatening to undermine the country. The poet aims to encourage upholding morality and harmony in Malaysia amid wider developments.

1. By Marzuki Ali
THE
FIGHTER’S
LINES

2. • This poem expresses the feelings of
the persona who is a former soldier.
• He has sacrificed his youth and his strength
in the fight for his country’s independence.
• He is now old and weak, wheelchair bound
and helpless.
SYNOPSIS

3. • His country is facing many challenges
and threats.
• The persona urges the younger generation
to continue the struggle for freedom.
• He hopes the young people will unite and
be the new ‘voice’ to fight for the country.
SYNOPSIS

4. • worn: tired; weary
• sufferings: feeling of pain and unhappiness
• forced sacrifices: have no choice but
to give up something
important and valuable
for the country
WORD
POWER STANZA
1

5. • crushed: broken
• challenge: difficult task
• remnants: remains
• crippled: disabled
• deceit: dishonest behaviour that is intended to
trick someone
WORD
POWER STANZA
2

6. • rank: lines; row
• ancestor:
• erect: build
• heirs: people who continue the work
started by others
WORD
POWER
STANZA
3

7. • The persona declares that he is old, tired
and has no more strength left in him.
• He then reflects that sacrifices made when
fighting for independence are countless
PARAPHRASE
STANZA
1

8. • During that time, they fought with all
of their will and as the consequences now
he is wheelchair bound
• After years of independence, the persona is
upset as he sees that the people are trying
to destroy themselves by engulfing into
the world full of lies.
PARAPHRASE
STANZA
2

9. • He says that there is nothing much he can do
as he cannot control people’s mind as how he
once did holding guns to destroy invaders
PARAPHRASE
STANZA
2

10. • Due to the spreading of lies, he now urges
new generation to speak out their opinions
and fight for their freedom.
• He tells us in order to fight for our freedom,
first we have to be united, ‘erect a wall of people’
regardless of our races or religions
and fight for the sake of our nation’s harmony
PARAPHRASE
STANZA
3 and 4

11. • Due to the spreading of lies, he now urges
new generation to speak out their opinions
and fight for their freedom.
• He tells us in order to fight for our freedom,
first we have to be united, ‘erect a wall of people’
regardless of our races or religions
and fight for the sake of our nation’s harmony
PARAPHRASE
STANZA
3 and 4

12. • As most of countries nowadays are aiming
to reach the highest level of developments, our
country, Malaysia also do not want to miss it out.
• But, without we realize, we slowly losing our
morality and our country slowly engulfing in a
sea of lies.
WHY the poet write
this poem?

13. • He stresses here that if we,
as the younger generation cannot find
the way to prohibit the dishonesties and lies,
we are putting our country fate in a danger
as this dishonesties can shake the stability
of our country and the peace it possesses.
WHY the poet write
this poem?

14. • That is why in the Stanza 4,
he urges the younger generation to be united
disregard of the races and religions
to speak out their opinions.
• This is important as these lies able
to distract the peace and harmony of
our country and finally lead to fight.
WHY the poet write
this poem?

15. • is written in the twentieth century
1. the present: as the persona sits in a
TWO wheelchair reminiscing about
TIME past struggle
FRAME
2. the past: when the persona was a
a young and strong soldier
SETTING

16. SETTING

17. • The point of view is based on the persona.
• The persona is the speaker in a poem.
• The poem is written in the first person of
view. (pronoun ‘I’).
• He is portrayed as a former soldier or
freedom fighter
POINT OF VIEW

18. LET’S
SOLVE
THE
PUZZLE

19. MERDEKA ! MERDEKA ! MERDEKA !