The Great Field

Preface: The poem "Big Field" satirizes King You of Zhou. It speaks of widowers and widows who cannot support themselves.

In the big field, many crops are planted. The seeds have been selected, the tools repaired, and everything prepared before plowing begins.

With my sharp plowshare, I start turning the southern fields, sowing the hundred kinds of grain. The seedlings grow straight and strong, and the great-grandson is well pleased with them.

The grain has formed ears and husks, has grown firm and fine; there are no barnyard grass nor dog's-tail grass.

Remove the stem-boring insects and the leaf-eating caterpillars, as well as the root-gnawing grubs and the joint-biting pests; do not let them harm the seedlings in my fields. The Field God has spiritual power—catch them and throw them into blazing fire.

Dark clouds spread across the sky, rain falls thick and fast. The rain reaches the public fields, and also flows into my private fields.

Over there are immature grains not yet harvested; here are sheaves not yet gathered; there are dropped bundles, here are fallen ears—these are the benefits for the widows.

The great-grandson comes to the field edge, bringing his wife and children. He sends food to those working in the southern fields, and the field overseer is very pleased.

The great-grandson comes to perform sacrifices, using the red ox and the black pig, as well as the millet and the grain. These are offered in worship and sacrifice, praying for great blessings to descend.

"Big Field" has four stanzas: two stanzas of eight lines each, and two stanzas of nine lines each.