Translation:

While resting in the yamen, I heard the rustling of bamboo leaves, as if I heard the complaints of the people crying about hunger and cold. Although we are just small officials in the state and county, every little thing about the people affects our emotions.

Original text:

"Poetry on Ink Bamboo Pictures"

Qing Dynasty: Zheng Xie

Lying in the Yazhai, listening to Xiao Xiaozhu, doubtful It is the sound of suffering among the people.

These little officials in Caozhou County are always caring about each branch and leaf.

Extended information:

1. Creation background

This poem was written by Zheng Banqiao, who was in charge of Shandong Province during the 11th and 2nd years of Qianlong (1746-1747). Made when the magistrate of Weixian County. In the imperial examination era, people who passed the examination in the same subject were called Nianbo, and their fathers or fathers who were in the same year were called Nianbo. The governor of the Qing Dynasty was also called Zhongcheng, and "big" meant respect. Zheng Banqiao once painted a picture of "Wind Bamboo" and presented it to the emperor. This poem was inscribed on this painting.

2. Appreciation

This is a poem on painting. It starts with writing about bamboo and expresses ambitions based on objects. It expresses worries and concerns for the people, as well as one's own sense of responsibility and The mentality of an upright official. Since the painting was given to a superior and elder, the words contained many humble and euphemistic words.

The first sentence points out the identity and environment, closely following the theme of sparse bamboos in the painting. "Ya Zhai" is the quiet room in the Yamen, indicating that he is an official; not mentioning "official residence", "mansion", etc., not only shows that his official rank is low, but also means he is humble. I took a break from my busy work and lay down quietly to rest, but I heard something like a wind and rain. It turned out that the bamboo grove, which had been cut by Yazhong himself, was moved by the breeze, making a rustling sound, which was full of interest.

It can be seen from this that the government office, which is a noisy and turbulent place, can be so elegant, and the poet's own elegant nature is self-evident. If written according to common sense, since it starts like this, the following sentence can easily be regarded as a poem about chanting the wind and the moon. However, the second sentence unexpectedly stirs up the wrist and turns the pen. The sound of bamboo leaves is associated with the suffering of the people, and the word "suspicious" expresses it. The poet's love for the people and diligence express his sincere feelings for the people.

During his tenure, he indeed cared deeply for the people and won their gratitude. In the end, he was falsely accused and dismissed because he opened a warehouse to provide relief without authorization, which violated the direct interests of corrupt officials.

The poet attaches great importance to the combination of poetry, calligraphy and painting. He often points out topics in poems and intersperses calligraphy topics with F pictures to form an inseparable unity. The language of the whole poem is simple, no allusions are used, and the poem is written purely in line drawing. However, time is interspersed with metaphors and puns, poetry is used to enhance the artistic conception of the painting, and painting is used to add the charm of the poetry, complementing each other.