English中文
Toiling Farmers
锄禾日当午
Hoeing the grain at midday,
汗滴禾下土
Sweat drips onto the soil beneath the plants.
谁知盘中餐
Who realises that every grain on the plate
粒粒皆辛苦
comes from such hard work?
Meaning
A farmer hoes in the midday heat, sweat falling into the soil. Every grain of food carries hard work.
About the poet
Li Shen was a Tang poet. His Toiling Farmers poems reflect on agricultural labor and the work behind food.