Quatrains in ancient Chinese poetry

Bai Juyi's Kuhan Village in Tang Dynasty.

Whole poem:

In December of Yuanhe eight years, it snowed for five days in succession.

Bamboo and cypress freeze to death, a farmer who lacks clothes and food!

Of all the families in the village, eight or nine are poor.

The cold wind is like a sharp sword, and the clothes are too thin to cover.

Only by lighting wormwood and heat, spend the morning waiting for the morning.

I only know that farmers are more bitter and sour in the cold year.

Then reflect on yourself and close the door of the hut tightly.

Brown fur is covered with a quilt, and it is warm when sitting and lying down.

I'm glad to get rid of hunger and cold instead of farming alone.

I am ashamed to think of them and ask who I am.

Translation:

In December of Yuanhe eight years, it snowed for five consecutive days. The cypress trees in the bamboo forest were frozen to death, not to mention the farmers who lacked food and clothing! Looking at all the families in the village, nine out of ten are poor. The cold wind is like a knife, and the clothes are too thin to cover you. Only by lighting wormwood to keep warm, I sat all night looking forward to dawn. I just know that farmers are more bitter when they get old in the cold. Reflect on yourself at this moment and close the door of the thatched cottage tightly.

Wearing a fur robe and a quilt, there is residual temperature whether sitting or lying down. Fortunately, I am not hungry and cold, and I don't have to work hard. I am ashamed to think of them and ask who I am.

Extended data:

Appreciate:

This poem is divided into two parts. In the first part, I wrote that farmers live in great pain and can't sleep at night in the cold winter when the north wind is like a knife and the snow is falling heavily. In such a cold day, the writers in the later period stayed at home, with food, clothes and good quilts, neither starving nor freezing, nor working hard in the fields.

The poet contrasted his life with the sufferings of the peasants, feeling ashamed and guilty, and asked, "Who is it?" Sigh.