The classic poems about labor include "Song of Attacking the Soil", "Returning to the Garden and Living in the Fields·Part 3", "Summer Pastoral Excites·Part 7", "Dongma Chong", and "Viewing the Wheat Cutting" wait.
1. "Song of Attacking the Soil"
Old Poetry: Composed at sunrise and breathed at sunset. I dig wells to drink from, plow fields to eat, what do I have from the imperial power?
Translation: After finishing the farm work, they will stop and take a rest, looking at the fruits of their labor, they are very satisfied. With such a comfortable life, who would still envy power?
2. "Returning to the Garden and Living in the Fields·Part 3"
Ancient poem: Planting beans at the foot of the southern mountain, the grass is full of bean seedlings. I wake up in the morning to sort out the wasteland and filth, and return with a hoe in the moonlight. The road is narrow, the grass and trees are long, and the evening dew touches my clothes. It's not enough to regret the stain on your clothes, but your wishes are fulfilled.
Translation: When you return to your hometown, you have to do everything yourself. Tao Yuanming planted beans at the foot of Nanshan Mountain, where weeds were abundant and bean seedlings were sparse. I get up early in the morning and go to the fields to remove weeds, and return home under the moonlight when night falls. Even though he was tired and his clothes were wet with dew, he still felt happy.
3. "Summer Pastoral Miscellany·Part 7"
Ancient poem: Working in the fields by day and raising hemp at night, the children of the village are each responsible for their own affairs. The children and grandchildren are still working for farming and weaving, and they are also learning to grow melons near the mulberry tree.
Translation: Go to the fields to weed during the day, and twist twine at home at night. Men and women in the village each have their own housework. Although the children do not know how to plow the fields and weave, they also learn to do it under the shade of the mulberry trees. Plant melons.
4. "Dongmaxong"
Ancient poem: A green grass is green and green, and the living water penetrates the flowers and protects the field. Silkworms are busy with farm work, I wonder who is beautiful in spring?
Translation: The grass in Dongmacheng is green and lush, and the flowers are everywhere. The living water flows through it, quietly moistening the farmland. It is the busy season for sericulture and farming, and I wonder who this beautiful spring scenery is for?
5. "Viewing the Cutting of Wheat"
Old Poetry: The Tian family has few leisure months, but in May people are twice as busy. At night, the south wind blows, and the wheat is covered with yellow. Women and aunts carry baskets of food, children carry pots of pulp, and go to the salary fields with them. Young men and women are in Nangang.
Translation: Farmers have no leisure all year round, and they are even busier in May. A warm south wind blows at night, and the wheat in the fields ripens and turns yellow. Women carry food in baskets, and children carry pots filled with water and soup. They go to the fields to deliver meals, and the men work in the southern hills.