Tao Yuanming: Early Spring in the Year of the Rabbit: Old Farmhouses: Two Poems: No. 2

Early Spring in the Year of the Rabbit: Old Farmhouses: Two Poems: No. 2

葵 卯 岁 始 春 怀 古 田 舍 ： 二 首

先 师 有 遗 训
忧 道 不 忧 贫。
瞻 望 邈 难 逮
转 欲 志 长 勤。

秉 耒 欢 时 务
解 颜 劝 农 人。
平 畴 交 远 风
良 苗 亦 怀 新。

虽 未 量 岁 功
即 事 多 所 欣。
耕 种 有 时 息
行 者 无 问 津。

日 人 相 与 归
壶 浆 劳 近 邻。
长 吟 掩 柴 门
聊 为 陇 亩 民。

Kui Mao Sui Shi Chun Huai Gu Tian She: Er Shou

(2)

Xian shi you wei xun
You dao bu you pin.
Zhan wang miao nan dai
Zhuan yu zhi chang qin.

Bing lei huan shi wu
Jie yan quan nong ren.
Ping chou jiao yuan feng
Liang miao yi huai xin.

Sui wei liang sui gong
Ji shi duo suo xin.
Geng zhong you shi xi
Xing zhe wu wen jin.

Ri ru xiang yu gui
Hu jiang lao jin lin
Chang yin yan chai men
Liao wei long mu min.

Early Spring in the Year of the Rabbit: Old Farmhouses: Two Poems: No. 2

Early teacher (Kongzi) offered his teachings as a gift:
Students should concern themselves with the doctrine, and not worry about society’s poor.
Looking far above and far away, this is too difficult to capture
My desires are now different and have changed, now I want to be good at farm work.

Hold an ancient pitchfork, joy in doing seasonal work
With a calm appearance, I advise the peasants.
Distant spring breezes befriend the level farmland
Strong seedlings also have happy hearts.

Although not yet appraised, this year’s achievements still unknown
Completed work in several places brings happiness.
After plowing and sowing, time to take a rest
Like the sage at a ferry crossing, I am without travelers asking for directions.

Sunset, time to wave good-byes and go home
Share a pot of porridge with nearby neighborhood workers.
Close my rustic wooden gate, drink and chant
All I do is to make field berms in the fields.

Commentary:

At this time of Tao’s life, working hard as a farmer was mostly a positive experience.  As he ages, he learned of some negatives aspects as well.