A Fighters Lines

Marzuki Ali This poem talks about the feeling of a retired soldier who had fought for the countrys independence. This poem is looking from the first person point of view who is a retired soldier as the poem uses the pronoun I , as seen in the stanza 1. In this stanza, the persona says that he is old and worn and has no energy. From this Stanza, we know that the persona once had become a soldier and he had suffered a lot to free the country from invaders. Many lives had been sacrificed to fight for our independence. At that time, they fought with all of their will. Consequently, he is wheelchair bound. Due to the loss of energy and the fact that he is now old, he has enough energy to only be able to sit on the wheelchair. This is portrayed in Stanza 2. After years of independence, the persona sees that the people are trying to destroy themselves by indulging into the world full of lies. Now, there is nothing much he can do as how he did before- protect the country. This is shown in the lines: see and cannot do much these times are too big a challenge for the remnants of my crippled years the net of deceit spread everywhere disturb me In stanza 3, the persona calls out to the younger generation to stand up and protect the country. 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 and fight for the sake of our nations harmony. Questions 1.Who is the persona? He is an old and tired soldier. 2. Why is the persona(old soldier) feeling tired? Because he has no more energy and is suffering after having spent all his life fighting for independence. 3. Why is he tired and suffering? He has spent many years fighting for the independence of his country. 4. What has the soldier/persona done during the fight for independence? He has sacrificed himself and has gone through countless hardship.

5. Is the soldier still strong? No, he isnt. He is old, tired and in a wheelchair. 6. What tells you that the persona is incapable(cannot) of walking? He was in a wheelchair. 7. How is the persona feeling? He is feeling crushed, hopeless when he sees bad things happening yet cannot do much. 8.Why is the persona feeling hopeless? The bad things happening are just too much for him as he is old, tired and crippled. 8. What is disturbing the persona? The many lies and corruption (net of deceit) in the country is disturbing him. 9. What is the persona asking us to do? He is asking us to get up, be aware of the importance of maintaining independence. He wants the young people to keep fighting for independence. Be brave And erect a wall of people Stand up heirs of our freedom 10. What does the persona ask the young generation to do? He wants the young generation to be brave and united and fight to keep the freedom of the country. 11. Why is it up to the younger generation to make sure the country is free and independent? It is because the persona is tired and old and has no more energy to fight. It was now up to the younger generation.