Su Dongpo Goes to Trial for Poetry

Today, in our last episode of the year, we look at 1079 when Su Dongpo was tried for a poem. Bitter partisan fighting, liberals versus conservatives…except for the great poetry, this Song Dynasty fight might remind you of something closer to home. 

Economist Article Mentioned in the Episode

https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/12/07/giving-the-poor-a-wodge-of-cash-is-better-than-dripping-it-out

My Translation

Carrying [the government money] on walking sticks and leaves of rice wraps, they hurry away

In the flash of an eye, the cash is gone from their hands. 

The only thing they got [out of these reforms] was their kids speak with pretty accents,

since they spent the better half of the year living in the city.

Original Poem:

杖藜裹饭去匆匆，

过眼青钱转手空。

赢得儿童语音好，

一年强半在城中。