Millet Government Taxes
纳 粟
有 吏 夜 扣 门
高 声 催 纳 粟。
家 人 不 得 晓
场 上 张 灯 烛。
扬 簸 净 如 珠
一 车 三 十 斛。
犹 忧 纳 不 中
鞭 责 及 童 仆。
昔 余 谬 从 事
内 愧 才 不 足。
连 授 四 命 官
坐 尸 十 年 禄。
常 闻 古 人 语
损 益 周 必 复。
今 日 谅 甘 心
还 他 太 仓 谷。
Na Su
You li ye kou men
Gao sheng cui na su.
Jia ren bu de xiao
Chang shang zhang deng zhu.
Yang bo jing ru zhu
Yi che san shi hu.
You you na bu zhong
Bian ze ji tong pu.
Xi yu miu cong shi
Nei kui cai bu zu.
Lian shou si ming guan
Zuo shi shi nian lu.
Chang wen gu ren yu
Sun yi zhou bi fu.
Jin ri liang gan xin
Huan ta tai cang gu.
Millet Government Taxes
Evenings have tax collectors knocking at their doors
Loudly ask for their millet government tax payments.
Some family members remain away from home until dawn
Lanterns and candles illuminate the threshing grounds.
Winnow the grain to be as clean as pearls
Each cart holds thirty decaliters.
Still they are anxious before the tax collector gives their okay
If not, they can demand and whip children and servants.
When I did this government job, I was not as thorough
Ashamed my palace talents were not as adequate.
Each of the four imperial edicts gave me a promotion
I just sat behind a desk and collected the ten years of official salary.
Frequently hear the words of ancient sages
Certainly went through the cycles of give and take, but I only took out for myself a small amount.
Today I forgive my too soft heart-mind
This year I can personally pay some taxes to help fill the government’s granary.
