| The Old Charcoal Seller Bai Juyi What does the old man fare? He cuts the wood in southern hill and fires his ware. His face is grimed with smoke and streaked with ash and dust, (this is all from his hard work) His temples grizzled and his fingers all turned black. (his figure has became different due to this work) The money earned by selling charcoal is not just Enough for food for his mouth and clothing for his back. Though his coat is thin, he hopes winter will set in, For cold weather will keep up the charcoals good price. At night a foot of snow falls outside city walls; (The city where he will sell his coal) At dawn his charcoal cart crushes ruts in the ice. (stopped) The sun is high, the ox tired out and hungry he; Outside the southern gate in snow and slush they rest. Two riders canter up. Alas! Who can they be? Two palace heralds in the yellow jackets dressed. Decree in hand, which is imperial order, one says; They turn the cart about and at the ox they shout. A cartload of charcoal a thousand catties weighs; (A cart of charcoal, over a thousand jin, the palace servants drive it away, unable to spare it.) They drive the cart away. What dare the old man say? Ten feet of silk and twenty feet of gauze deep red, That is the payment they fasten to the ox’s head. (Half a roll of red silk and a yard of fine cloth, tied to the ox's head as payment for the charcoal.) Source: Loving Chinese This poem demonstrates the hardships faced by common people working a hard and tiring job. In the end, the powerful took from him without giving something of equal payment. |
| "When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, the winter is at hand; When the sun sets, who doth not look for night? Untimely storms make men expect a dearth." William Shakespeare |
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