Written Inside the Palace For the Trees and Woodpeckers
省 中 见 树 上 啄 木 鸟 戏 题
一 啄 高 高 一 啄 低
一 声 声 急 一 声 迟。
可 怜 去 蠹 劳 心 口
蚁 入 枯 梨 自 不 知！
Xing Zhong Jian Shu Shang Zhou Mu Niao Ti
Yi zhuo gao gao yi zhuo di
Yi sheng sheng ji yi sheng chi.
Ke lian qu du lao xin kou
Yi ru ku li zi bu zhi!
Written Inside the Palace For the Trees and Woodpeckers
One pecks on high, another pecks down low
Suddenly one makes small sounds, another responds slowly.
Can sympathize with book-eating moths who can speak their minds
Ants enter a withered peach tree not even aware of them!
Notes:
Woodpeckers: Metaphor for the corrupt palace elite.
Book-eating moths: The intellectuals and literati.
Ants: The common palace workers.