English中文
Compassion for Farmers · 1
春种一粒粟
In spring a single grain is sown;
秋收万颗子
In autumn countless grains are gathered.
四海无闲田
Across the land no field lies idle,
农夫犹饿死
Yet farmers still starve to death.
Meaning
One spring seed can yield a great harvest, yet farmers may still go hungry despite working the land. The poem cares about unfair hardship; it is more than a reminder to finish a meal.
About the poet
Li Shen was a Tang poet. His Toiling Farmers poems reflect on agricultural labor and the work behind food.