Get Your Premium Membership

The Movement From the Rice Fields

If you have never seen it, How could you hear the song here; If you have recited the poem "To Commiserate Farmers, There will be more understandings shining in the night sky; The movement composed with sweats rippled along the rice ear waves The hot July or August suns were grilling the ground As flames flipping their notes all around. Farming folk songs were sung loudly from the straw hats, Combined with the rumbles of the threshers, Meanwhile golden grains piled mountainous heights. Look! The moon and stars came along with The sun hanging on. From dawn to dusk, they were embracing the tanned back. When didn’t they play the live keys For the sound hopes in the waters and soils? Listen! Can it be regarded as resonant songs? With thy eyes taking a photograph of The golden farm of rice, And patting at our stomach, A movement for the rice fields, shouldn’t we compose? Note: The poem "To Commiserate Farmers" is a well-known poem written by Li Shen, a famous Chinese poet in Tang Dynasty, which shows the poet’s sympathy on the poor farmers’ working and living.

Copyright © | Year Posted 2018




Post Comments

Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.

Please Login to post a comment

Date: 8/21/2018 11:33:00 AM
Very interesting, Runping. This takes me back to a similar style of poetry which was prevalent in Israel's "Back to the Land" movement from about 1880 - 1930's, in which hearty socialist pioneers boldly strode into the fields to make the desert bloom and to reclaim swampland---with the government's guidance and blessing, of course. Thank you for posting this fascinating 'period-piece.' Best wishes, Gershon
Login to Reply
Chen Avatar
Runping Chen
Date: 8/21/2018 9:46:00 PM
Thank you, Gershon. Glad you like it and share your nice reading.

Book: Reflection on the Important Things