Watching the Reapers
- Poetry of Bai Juyi

田家少闲月，五月人倍忙。

夜来南风起，小麦覆陇黄。

妇姑荷箪食，童稚携壶浆。

相随饷田去，丁壮在南冈。

足蒸暑土气，背灼炎天光。

力尽不知热，但惜夏日长。

复有贫妇人，抱子在其旁。

右手秉遗穗，左臂悬敝筐。

听其相顾言，闻者为悲伤。

田家输税尽，拾此充饥肠。

今我何功德，曾不事农桑。

吏禄三百石，岁晏有余粮。

念此私自愧，尽日不能忘。

Farmers have but little leisure,

but the fifth month is the busiest;

last night there came a strong south wind and the wheat turned to gold in the fields;

came wives and daughters with carrying-poles, 

children with water pots, 

streaming out to the fields to serve the strong lads harvesting;

heat from the earth burned the reapers feet; 

the sun played on their backs like fire,

yet all were so busy they did not care; 

they only feared that the sun would soon set.

And then I saw coming a poor woman carrying her child on her back,

in her right hand some ears she had gleaned, 

in her left a broken basket; 

and I listened to her as she spoke:

"The crop in my home all goes for taxes; only if I glean can I get enough to fill my stomach!"

I look at myself wondering what right have I, 

what special virtue, 

to be given three hundred piculs of rice each year, 

enough to eat with plenty to spare;

I listen and feel shame; 

this I cannot forget.