《观刈麦》是唐代诗人白居易的早期作品。此诗描写了麦收时节的农忙景象，对造成人民贫困之源的繁重租税提出指责，对于诗人自己无功无德又不劳动却能丰衣足食而深感愧疚，表现了一个有良心的封建官吏的人道主义精神。在写作手法上，诗人将全景式刻画与特定人物描写相结合，夹叙夹议，使全诗成为一个有机的整体。

白居易·《观刈麦》

田家少闲月，五月人倍忙。

夜来南风起，小麦覆陇黄。

妇姑荷箪食，童稚携壶浆。

相随饷田去，丁壮在南冈。

足蒸暑土气，背灼炎天光。

力尽不知热，但惜夏日长。

复有贫妇人，抱子在其旁。

右手秉遗穗，左臂悬敝筐。

听其相顾言，闻者为悲伤。

田家输税尽，拾此充饥肠。

今我何功德，曾不事农桑。

吏禄三百石，岁晏有余粮。

念此私自愧，尽日不能忘。

Watching the Reapers

Bai Juyi

Farmers have but little leisure,

but the fifth month is the busiest;

last night there came a strong

south wind and the wheat

turned to gold in the fields;

came wives and daughters

with carrying-poles, children

with water pots, streaming

out to the fields to serve

the strong lads harvesting;

heat from the earth burned

the reapers feet; the sun played

on their backs like fire,

yet all were so busy they did

not care; they only feared that

the sun would soon set.

And then I saw coming

a poor woman carrying her child on her back,

in her right hand some ears

she had gleaned, in her left

a broken basket; and I listened

to her as she spoke:

"The crop in my home all

goes for taxes; only if I glean

can I get enough to fill

my stomach!"

I look at myself wondering

what right have I, what special

virtue, to be given three hundred

piculs of rice each year, enough

to eat with plenty to spare;

I listen and feel shame; this

I cannot forget.

（Rewi Alley 译）

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