— Luo Yin
On the plain or atop the hill,
Of beauty you enjoy your fill.
You gather honey from flowers sweet.
For whom are you busy and fleet?
Note
Luo Yin (833–909) was a sharp-witted and socially critical poet of the late Tang Dynasty, known for his satirical tone, philosophical depth, and sympathy for the common people. Despite repeated failures in the imperial examinations – reportedly due to his blunt, unflattering style – he became one of the most influential voices of his time, using concise, accessible verse to expose injustice and hypocrisy.
His poem “The Bees” appears at first as a simple nature observation but quickly turns into a powerful social allegory. It describes how bees tirelessly work across “every plain and mountain peak,” claiming all the finest blossoms to make honey. Yet the poem ends with a haunting rhetorical question: “After gathering nectar from countless flowers to make honey – whose labor is this? And whose sweetness does it serve?”
This deceptively gentle verse critiques exploitation: the bee symbolizes the hardworking peasant or artisan whose efforts enrich others while they themselves gain little reward. The unanswered question lingers as a timeless protest against inequality and unacknowledged toil.
蜂
— 罗隐
不论平地与山尖，
无限风光尽被占。
采得百花成蜜后，
为谁辛苦为谁甜？
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