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.
What the poem means
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.
Meet the poet
Li Shen was a Tang poet. His Toiling Farmers poems reflect on agricultural labor and the work behind food.
Li Shen · More poems →