Are You Still Playing Flute?
The Original Version of the Poem
Masihkah Kau Bermain Seruling oleh Zurinah Hassan
Masihkah kau bermain seruling
walau waktu telah terlewat untuk kita bercinta
aku semakin terasa bersalah
melayani godaan irama
lagu yang tersimpan pada lorong halus buluh
dikeluarkan oleh nafas seniman
diukir oleh bibir
diatur oleh jari
dilayangkan oleh alun angin
menolak ke dasar rasa.
Masihkah kau bermain seruling
ketika kampung semakin sunyi
sawah telah uzur
waktu jadi terlalu mahal
untuk memerhatikan hujan turun
merenung jalur senja
mengutip manik embun
menghidu harum bunga.
Masihkah kau bermain seruling
ketika aku terasa mata bersalah
untuk melayani rasa rindu padamu
di kota yang semakin kusut dan tenat
adik-adikku menganggur dan sakit jiwa
bangsaku dipecahkan oleh politik
saudara diserang bom-bom ganas
dunia sudah terlalu tua dan parah.
Di sinilah berakhirnya percintaan kita
kerana zaman sedang menuntut para seniman
hidup di luar dirinya.
BIODATA OF ZURINAH HASSAN
- Date / Place of birth : 13 June 1949, Alor Setar Kedah.
- Permanent address : No.2, Jalan Pinggir, 8/1L, Seksyen 8, 40000 Shah Alam since 1974.
- Academic Qualifications : B.A.Hons (Universiti Sains Malaysia), M.A. (Universiti Putra Malaysia). Doktor Falsafah, Akademi Pengajian Melayu, Universiti Malaya.
- Awards :
-
- Anugerah Penulisan Asia Tenggara (S.E.A. Write Award) 2004
- Book Category Award
i- Pujangga Tidak Bernama, Hadiah Sastera Perdana(1994/1995)
- ii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi, Hadiah Buku Perpustakaan Negara 2002/2004)
- iii- Memoir Zurinah Hassan Menjejak Puisi , Hadiah Sastera Perdana 2002/2003.
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
SYNOPSIS
This poem his about a persona who reminisces the time he/she spends when in a village. There are many things that are now luxury to her such as listening to the melody of the flute itself, gazing at the evening rays, collecting dew drops, or enjoying the fragrance of flowers. The village is now unpopulated as many have moved to the city. Now that she has moved on with her life, she wonders whether the flutist is still playing the flute. This is because, there are many challenges in the world today such as the world is dying, the unemployment issue and the people are disunited because of different political views.
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’
134 Comments »
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zahuren
Welcome all English teachers around Malaysia!! 
warta9news Said:
on March 28, 2010 at 4:21 pm
tq teacher
sherion Said:
on May 12, 2010 at 12:18 am
thank you teacher
Elvena Said:
on August 7, 2010 at 6:06 am
Thanks dear teacher..
zahuren Said:
on August 24, 2010 at 12:29 am
You are most welcome, Elvena
Dyana Hyun Joong Said:
on February 8, 2013 at 5:43 am
thanks dear teacher..you are so fantastic.
SCOUT BOY Said:
on August 8, 2010 at 7:28 am
ITS REALLY HELP ME.THANK YOU…………..
zahuren Said:
on August 24, 2010 at 12:29 am
Most welcome, Scout Boy
hani Said:
on August 12, 2010 at 3:25 am
thank you a lot teacher..
zahuren Said:
on August 24, 2010 at 12:31 am
You are welcome, Hani.
Koh Suat Chin Said:
on October 13, 2010 at 6:06 am
Hi. Thanks for posting this online! Did you notice that the last stanza ( from the original BM poem) has been left out in the Anthology sent out to the schools? This seems to have misled most readers as to the real message of the poet. Sigh…
zahuren Said:
on October 18, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Hi! You are welcome. Yes I did notice that they have omitted the last stanza.
Luke Said:
on May 17, 2011 at 11:34 am
It is because that stanza mentions about LOVE
singleman Said:
on October 18, 2010 at 9:38 am
it’s helped me to get A in the final exam…..altough i’m not your student,but i have to say thankyou to u sincerely…THANK YOU !!!!
zahuren Said:
on October 18, 2010 at 1:50 pm
I’m glad this has helped you in your final exam..Hopefully more As to go!!
pavitra Said:
on May 2, 2011 at 1:25 pm
so sweet
zurinah hassan Said:
on October 22, 2010 at 3:15 pm
I am the poet mentioned here. Sorry to say that there has been a misprint. Look at the last paragraph. In the hazard of you should be in “the hazard of this city”.
What can I do about this mistake? I was not called to proof read.
zahuren Said:
on November 4, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Salam Pn Zurinah. It’s very sad to know that the version received at schools is not the correct one. But, what can we do? I like this particular poem of yours. It is very meaningful.
Koh Suat Chin Said:
on November 6, 2010 at 8:08 am
Dear Pn Zurinah,
What can you do? Well, if I were you, I would contact the people at the CDC and request/demand that they send a letter to the Jabatan Pendidikan of each state, informing them of the mistake, and providing the schools with the correct copy. And, for reprints of the book (which they will have EVERY year for the next 7 or 8 years), demand that the corrct version be printed. Surely we cannot allow all these young people to be studying such a mutilated version of your most meaningful poem.
Warm regards and once again, thank you for the beautiful poem.
Rohaida Ngah Said:
on November 28, 2010 at 3:03 pm
salam Puan Zurinah..it’s quite unfortunate that there’s as misprint in the text. i think it’s not too late to correct it..your poem will be used by Form 5 students starting january 2011. the officers in charge at Curricullum Development Department can be notified and they can send the errata to all schools – via road shows, maybe or simply by sending the corrected version to all schools. it’s so very important that teachers teach the corrected version because we do look at poems line by line..and only then we look at it as a whole, and we also test our students this poem..
by the way, i’m an english teacher teaching in a Terengganu school and a great fan of yours…
one officer that you can talk to is Puan Diana Fatimah, i’m pretty sure you’ve come across her during meetings..
Lim Yoke Kiaw Said:
on July 8, 2011 at 10:31 am
Hi Madam Zurinah,
Thanks for pointing that out. In fact, I think the translation does not do justice to your original. To be honest, it’s shoddy!
http://meexam.blogspot.com
nusyi Said:
on August 2, 2011 at 2:28 am
Which one should i refer??
Either http://zurinahhassan.blogspot.com/2010/05/masihkah-kau-bermain-serulingare-you.html or reference books?
outlawchaser Said:
on January 26, 2012 at 1:40 pm
dear pn zurinah;
it is shameful to learn that your beautiful poem was misinterpreted…You should have been called to proof read the poem so the translation won’t divert from the original version. I wonder whether the translator is qualified enough to do the translation or the poem was translated based on his/her own interpretation.
nab Said:
on April 27, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Dear Pn Zurinah,
thank you for the info.. I have had difficulties explaining ” in the hazard of you” to my students… now it’s clearer… I definitely agree with the opinion that it should be pointed out to other teachers as a misinterpretation of the original poem…
cicak gemoxx Said:
on March 12, 2015 at 1:40 am
hi
Sakinah Hassan Said:
on November 9, 2010 at 4:36 am
Salam Zahureen,
As a teacher myself, I am glad I found your blog as it helps me a lot in my teaching. Thank you!
zahuren Said:
on November 30, 2010 at 4:14 am
You are most welcome Sakinah. I’m glad that this is helpful to you.
sara Said:
on January 7, 2011 at 6:26 am
thanks a lot for the site. it makes my teaching preparation easier. hope to hear more updates from you soon
cicak gemoxx Said:
on March 12, 2015 at 1:40 am
you welcome lub lub
Malaysian student Said:
on January 8, 2011 at 12:43 pm
I find the poet’s own interpretation quite different from yours:
http://zurinahhassan.blogspot.com/2010/05/masihkah-kau-bermain-serulingare-you.html
reiko Said:
on March 22, 2011 at 12:09 am
you should know that literature has 1001 interpretations and none of these are wrong if you give out your own reasoning and proof on your opinion
faley fiona Said:
on January 12, 2011 at 1:55 pm
thanks so much for the sharing
pauline Said:
on January 13, 2011 at 11:31 am
cn you tell me the meaning of stanza 3 in english?
hasina Said:
on January 22, 2011 at 10:57 am
it is hard to understand what the poets want to tell… by the way i can understand little bit… hhhhmmmmmmmmmmm
Renee Said:
on January 22, 2011 at 1:30 pm
A very nice poem indeed…too bad the last stanza was not translated…If it was,it would be much more meaningful….tq for the notes…It will help me in my coming oral test…
ida Said:
on January 24, 2011 at 2:31 pm
awesome!!
❤ ❤
Razdlan dahlan Said:
on January 28, 2011 at 5:27 am
its very nice poem…
i like this poem…
siti Said:
on February 3, 2011 at 11:33 am
thanks a lot teacher for send this poem
Nur Atiqah Said:
on February 6, 2011 at 4:25 am
it’s really help me teacher , thank you (:
Gee Said:
on February 8, 2011 at 6:32 am
Dear Zahuren,
Glad that you have interpreted with some justifications but the last stanza for this poem is missing and it is not found in the text book as well. Just like the line stanza 3 line 4.
zahuren Said:
on February 8, 2011 at 8:23 am
Yes Gee, Pn Zurinah Hassan herself also commented on that. The last stanza is not included in the text. You can read her comment below.
Amirul Said:
on February 9, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Thanks a lot, Zahuren…
eyqien hussin Said:
on February 16, 2011 at 3:35 pm
beautiful and deeply meaningful
seiichi Said:
on March 5, 2011 at 2:35 pm
I wonder what questions the education ministry is going to ask about this poem. . . last stanza missing. . . different books giving different interpretations. . . and there is not help book or guidelines for teachers from the ministry . . buta-buta teach lah???
ana Said:
on March 7, 2011 at 1:37 pm
tengs a lot…=)
azimah Said:
on March 31, 2011 at 3:10 am
thank you teacher
fatin Said:
on April 5, 2011 at 7:35 am
wow,it’s help me a lot in my exam paper..thank you so much ! finally i understand about this poem.. 🙂
addin ismail Said:
on April 13, 2011 at 10:56 am
i’m doing a presentation and i would like to now how to explain the style of language of “Are you still playing your flute? In the village so quiet and deserted”
zahuren Said:
on May 3, 2011 at 2:01 am
Zurinah Hassan is using a simple and straight forward language. The poem sounds like as if it is addressed to the flautist.
bl@ze Said:
on April 18, 2011 at 5:31 am
nice poem and you are a very good writer..;-)
zahuren Said:
on May 3, 2011 at 1:57 am
This poem is written by one of the prominent poets in Malaysia which is Zurinah Hassan.
nasmi Said:
on April 27, 2011 at 12:12 pm
.im feel so good to c your helpful notes.thanks a lot teacher.before this,im always thinking that i will never understand this poem coz my english is not good….for your information,i got 9/12 for this poem in my monthly test………..thanks teacher!i love you……
Aziz Jaffar Aj Said:
on May 9, 2011 at 1:53 pm
its very nice poem…
i like this poem…
:)…
zayy Said:
on May 10, 2011 at 9:37 am
thank you so much for this literature notes.
my searched become easier.
notes here are very simple and easily understood.
thank god !
schol Said:
on May 17, 2011 at 12:15 pm
thankx…
Zkin Asyikin Said:
on June 18, 2011 at 10:05 am
thx
its really help me a lot …
Lim Yoke Kiaw Said:
on July 8, 2011 at 10:36 am
You can get answers to some questions on Are You Still Playing the Flute at http://meexam.blogspot.com
zubir mrsm Said:
on June 23, 2011 at 4:55 am
Thanks for the helpful notes. Now, I could understand the poem really well. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!
LINDA MRSM lgkw Said:
on August 1, 2011 at 9:45 am
yes me t0o !..can understand n0w..after read alm0st all..tq..
anis Said:
on June 30, 2011 at 5:58 am
can you give some example questions about this poem?
rina Said:
on June 30, 2011 at 11:30 pm
im sorry im searching for the literal meaning of are u still playing your flute where is it????
viki Said:
on July 27, 2011 at 8:57 am
vry simple & easy to understand!tq^^
tracy elly Said:
on July 29, 2011 at 11:09 am
hello there teacher,,can you help me..the repetition is “are you still playing you flute” right..can you explain me what is the meaning about..
garfield Said:
on August 12, 2011 at 10:48 am
this is awesome note for my exam……. thankz a lot teacher eventhough i dont know who u r……………..
garfield Said:
on August 12, 2011 at 10:53 am
is this poem come out for 2011 spm exam????? 🙂
garfield Said:
on August 12, 2011 at 10:59 am
can u give me some clu for success in english language? i really appreciate it.. maybe some of my writing in this sentence is wrong actually, but i try to do my best.. 🙂
park hanuel Said:
on September 6, 2011 at 8:37 am
i love this poems~
tomorrow i got trial exam~
wish me luck~
Syamierza Said:
on September 6, 2011 at 9:35 am
Misprint? The real last last stanza omitted? This was a BM poem originally? This is AWESOME.I’m going to share it with my teacher and friends.Thank you teacher Zahuren. 🙂
Zurah Hilmirah Said:
on September 6, 2011 at 5:02 pm
terima kasih….kerana sgt2 membantu sya….
ira nirah Said:
on September 13, 2011 at 1:44 pm
how is the rice field?
zahuren Said:
on September 14, 2011 at 3:18 am
The rice field is sick as it is unproductive.
ieyra Said:
on September 13, 2011 at 4:28 pm
now..i already understand about this poem,,thnz teacher..
eqas Said:
on October 6, 2011 at 2:12 pm
thank teacher
Li Li Fa Said:
on October 11, 2011 at 4:30 am
I would appreciate it if you could explain the 3rd stanza.
Why it disturbs your conscience to be thinking of the person?
Why in the hazard of you?
Does politics aims to disunite people?
Why was your friend slaughtered mercilessly”
Why the negative outlook about this world?
Thank You.
zahuren Said:
on October 25, 2011 at 7:32 am
1. Because she should be thinking of the bigger problems.
2. Because ‘you’ is not in a comfortable zone.
3. I can’t answer because it depends on individual.
4. Because of different views
5. People are free to express their views. This is the poet’s view.
I hope this answers your questions. Thank you.
koh suat chin Said:
on January 8, 2012 at 12:40 pm
The line “the hazard of you” was a wrong translation actually. It should be “the hazard of the city”.
zahuren Said:
on January 16, 2012 at 4:34 am
Read what the writer herself commented on that.
nor azelah Said:
on October 14, 2011 at 7:03 am
cikgu saya nak tanya?? poem are you stiil playing your flute… bermaksuk tentang apa???
zahuren Said:
on October 25, 2011 at 7:23 am
Please read the notes provided.
michele carvalho Said:
on October 29, 2011 at 4:46 am
hye..
thank you so much for this site …god bless u ❤
pavithiran Said:
on November 14, 2011 at 12:02 pm
teacher there is a qeustion tat my teacher ask from the stanza 2 but could remember it but i know the answer only the answer is because the villager leaving the village the question is based on what?
zahuren Said:
on November 15, 2011 at 4:41 am
I think the question might be ‘Why is the rice paddy field sick?’
Siraz Said:
on November 26, 2011 at 1:23 pm
is there a synopsis for this poem?
Ong En Oi Said:
on January 16, 2012 at 6:38 pm
This is my first year teaching Form 5 students. I went through the poem before my first lesson and I got stuck with the line ‘in the hazard of you’. It didn’t make any sense and the reference books were no help. In my opinion, we should stick to poems originally written in English to avoid confusion. There should be poems out there originally written in English with Malaysian ‘flavour’, shouldn’t there? By the way, ‘Masihkah Kau Bermain Seruling’ is lovely.
kaixin humairah Said:
on February 10, 2012 at 2:34 pm
terima kasih kerana memberi maklumat yang sangat berguna. kebanyakan buku tidak menepati apa yang sebenarnya dimaksudkan dalam puisi .
anjelina jong tiyo Said:
on February 15, 2012 at 12:31 pm
thanks teacher…
anjelina jong tiyo Said:
on February 15, 2012 at 12:37 pm
from this blog i can get the note about this poem…:) like this blog very much…
Steve Patrick Said:
on March 15, 2012 at 12:15 pm
thanks for the note. easy to understand it. 😀
emilyabrahim Said:
on April 3, 2012 at 1:36 pm
thank you very much teacher.
Mia Said:
on April 12, 2012 at 1:30 am
Thanks for this useful note of one of my favourite poem teacher.. ^^
dedellllcikas Said:
on April 12, 2012 at 6:17 am
Tq so much for this. Minta izin share ye….
zulfiqar Said:
on April 26, 2012 at 3:41 am
why do the poet choose flute instead of other instrument?
shantini Said:
on May 6, 2012 at 8:17 am
It is very sad that we have to teach a poem that has such blatant errors in it – and students will be assessed on this blunder in such a major exam as SPM…!! Sorry state of affairs, indeed…
Norazaliza Natasha Said:
on May 14, 2012 at 1:28 pm
thanz a lot teacher
kery Said:
on June 11, 2012 at 12:16 am
tq teacherr,,
labek Said:
on July 12, 2012 at 12:14 am
my teacher said to just follow the translated version
labek Said:
on July 12, 2012 at 12:17 am
thanks 4 the note
Glary Said:
on August 18, 2012 at 3:02 am
Thank teacher…
arunaa Said:
on February 5, 2013 at 8:07 am
thanks teacher…..
nurul sakinah Said:
on February 18, 2013 at 1:04 pm
Asalamualaikum,teacher thank you for everthing I’m very appreciate
zahuren Said:
on May 8, 2013 at 4:28 am
Waalaikumsalam and you are welcome 🙂
Feen Eira Said:
on March 9, 2013 at 12:00 pm
boleh x terangkn sinopsis dlm melayuu.
zahuren Said:
on May 8, 2013 at 4:07 am
After all, your answer is in English Language. Why don’t you refer to the dictionary?
Honestly Said:
on May 8, 2013 at 6:51 pm
it would be good if you make an question for us,,,
Nik Fauzi Said:
on June 17, 2013 at 12:40 am
hahahahaah…..love this poem ❤
amirul asyraf Said:
on August 27, 2013 at 2:25 pm
i like this poem..
Aliza Kadir Said:
on September 14, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Should they add the last few verses in the English translation, I think the meaning, the message, a lot of interpretations might be different.
zahuren Said:
on September 14, 2013 at 3:41 pm
I wonder what happened actually when they were translating the poem
rosehadiaty yahya Said:
on September 18, 2013 at 5:08 pm
In regard of the issue, ‘the hazard of the city’, had been mistranslated (i would say), it could mislead the readers in a way bcause literary words give the whole view of the poem. I noticed it recently. By the way, n thank you zahuren for this post. It has enlighten me
Weaslly edmund Said:
on October 25, 2013 at 12:29 pm
please state the meaning for each stanza…it could more helping students.
amy Said:
on November 6, 2013 at 3:57 pm
thanks you teacher….may i go to toilet???…lol..
Mohamad Azim Said:
on January 17, 2014 at 12:05 am
Finally!
garcinia cambogia dr oz part 4 Said:
on January 17, 2014 at 6:19 am
garcinia cambogia dr oz part 4
What’s the best way to copyright a website and all its contents? Copyright poetry?
3 humpty dumpty Said:
on March 12, 2014 at 12:12 am
hello . we really glad that you post this note for the poem . it’s really helps us . merci beaucoup .
puma Said:
on September 25, 2014 at 1:09 am
o0o
hasnizah Said:
on May 4, 2014 at 5:36 pm
very good…
darrshan Said:
on May 31, 2014 at 7:39 am
thank you teacher……..this is very useful for my revision at home
Freddino Said:
on August 5, 2014 at 2:00 am
Thanks for this poem teacher ..
kilibin Said:
on September 8, 2014 at 12:16 pm
what type of musical instrument is the flute
chan Said:
on September 25, 2014 at 1:08 am
hi
Ronald Said:
on November 13, 2014 at 2:41 am
Hi there, I desire tto subscribe for this webpage to
get nnewest updates, thus where can i do it please assist.
Cameron Said:
on November 15, 2014 at 6:09 am
I couldn’t refrain from commenting.Well written!
Yuvaraj Said:
on December 26, 2014 at 12:35 pm
thanks for this poem
Sandy Said:
on December 26, 2014 at 12:37 pm
Thanks 4 this poem …..and what type of musical instrument is the flute…
mierol1616 Said:
on February 13, 2015 at 2:35 am
tq teacher
charru Said:
on June 5, 2015 at 1:26 pm
nice
thanks for ur notes
Caleb Thien Said:
on June 6, 2015 at 5:59 am
Thanks Teacher! I finally understand this poem after all this time.
nurizz Said:
on August 12, 2015 at 11:04 am
Tc, why the people unemployed and desperate?
zahuren Said:
on October 29, 2015 at 4:40 am
Unemployed because:
1. limited job opportunities
2. lazy
3. no qualification
4. jobs are not suitable
eqiz3912 Said:
on August 12, 2015 at 11:40 am
Teacher, I wanna ask you why the people unemployed and desperate?
zahuren Said:
on October 29, 2015 at 4:39 am
Unemployed because:
1. limited job opportunities
2. lazy
3. no qualification
4. jobs are not suitable
miena Said:
on August 16, 2015 at 3:20 am
wow! such a simple poem and i could understand it after all yeay!!
ariff Said:
on August 17, 2015 at 2:03 pm
teacher,if the question ask why the people unemployed and desperate…how to answer it…does it HOT question?
zahuren Said:
on October 29, 2015 at 4:39 am
Unemployed because:
1. limited job opportunities
2. lazy
3. no qualification
4. jobs are not suitable
Nyza Said:
on September 2, 2015 at 2:36 pm
thankyou teacher !