“Farmer’s Lament” is a five-character ancient poem written by Lu You, a writer, historian and patriotic poet in the Southern Song Dynasty. The poem uses plain language to describe a farmer’s story, reflecting his bloody experience of working day and night and longing for a peaceful life, but being subjected to excessive taxation and extortion by the government, making it impossible for him to make a living. The whole poem is written in plain language and vividly, and the poem expresses deep sympathy for the farmers.
《农家叹》是南宋文学家、史学家、爱国诗人陆游创作的一首五言古诗。该诗以白描手法，通过一位农民的诉说，反映他如何日夜劳动，向往过太平日子，但又受到官府滥征暴敛，以致无以维生的血泪遭遇。全篇语言平实，刻画真切，字里行间表达了对农民深切的同情。
《农家叹》 陆游
有山皆种麦，有水皆种秔。
牛领疮见骨，叱叱犹夜耕。
竭力事本业，所愿乐太平。
门前谁剥啄，县吏徵租声。
一身入县庭，日夜穷笞搒。
人孰不惮死？自计无由生。
还家欲具说，恐伤父母情。
老人倘得食，妻子鸿毛轻！
Lament for a Peasant Household
Lu You
He has sown every slope with wheat,
Sown every stream with paddy,
His oxen’s necks are rubbed raw to the bone,
Yet still at night he goads them on to plough.
His last ounce of strength goes into farming,
And all he asks is to be left in peace;
But who is this knocking at his door?
The county officer clamoring for taxes!
He is haled to the county court,
Bastinadoed day and night;
All men dread death,
But he sees no way out…
Home again he longs to tell his wrongs,
Yet shrinks from upsetting his parents,
For to provide the two old folk with food,
His ready to sacrifice his wife and son.
