Each seed when sown in spring,
Will make autumn yields high.
What will fertile fields bring?
Of hunger peasants die.
Original Poem:
「悯农 · 其一」
李绅
春种一粒粟，秋收万颗子。
四海无闲田，农夫犹饿死。
Interpretation:
This poem was written by the Tang Dynasty poet Li Shen, during a period of social turbulence in Tang China, where peasants were under immense survival pressure due to the inequitable social system. Through this poem, Li Shen expresses his deep sympathy for the plight of impoverished farmers and reflects on social injustice.
First Couplet: “春种一粒粟，秋收万颗子。”
(In spring, one grain is planted, and in autumn, thousands of grains are harvested.)
These two lines describe the agricultural labor, showcasing the fruits of the farmers' hard work. The contrast between spring planting and autumn harvest conveys the hope that labor will lead to a bountiful yield, emphasizing the farmer's efforts and nature's bounty.
Second Couplet: “四海无闲田，农夫犹饿死。”
(There is no idle land in the world, yet farmers still starve to death.)
These lines reveal the tragic fate of farmers under an unjust social system. Despite the extensive use of land and the frequent harvests, farmers remain unable to escape poverty and hunger, highlighting deep social inequalities and the wealth gap.
Writing Features:
Li Shen uses concise and direct language to profoundly expose the harshness of society and the farmer's plight. The poem contrasts the bountiful harvests with the farmers' hardships, strengthening the emotional impact. Through metaphors like “one grain” and “thousands of grains,” the poet vividly depicts the farmers' labor and harvest, while the description of “farmers still starving” deepens the poem’s social critique.
Overall Analysis:
This poem starkly reveals the hardships of peasants in feudal society. The strong contrast between the depiction of hard work and harvest and the grim reality of poverty and death creates a powerful impact. Through the poem, Li Shen raises strong awareness of the plight of farmers, highlighting the social class injustice.
Poem translator:
Xu Yuan-chong (许渊冲)
About the poet:
Li Shen (李绅), 772 - 846 A.D., Tang Dynasty chancellor and poet, was a native of Qiao Cheng (谯城), Bozhou City (亳州市), Anhui Province (安徽省). The most glittering part of his life was in poetry, and he was a participant in the New Music Movement, which had a great impact on the history of literature.
