ARE YOU STILL PLAYING YOUR FLUTE? By ZURINAH HASSAN

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.

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 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 this city

my younger brothers unemployed and

desperate

my people disunited by politics

my friend slaughtered mercilessly

this world is too old and bleeding.

Is this the end of our love

time is forcing us, as artists

to live outside ourselves.