Classic Poem

I often read the writings of the sages
and now I understand enlightened rule.
" Enrich them and teach them, " we are told,
yet not a word on how it's to be done!
" Sufficient arms and sufficient food " ;
but no details listed here at all.
Yet if we wish to be like Eastern Chou,
in just one year we could do it now.
The " well-field system " spoken of in schools:
not one word of it need bother us at all.
When T'ang and Yü instructed Kao and K'uei,
" Be dignified, " they said, two words alone!
So great, the hearts of these sage men:
Yao and Shun and Confucius as well.
We are simply tasked with emulation;
measures taken will follow naturally.
As to whether it is possible,
that depends on how we act ourselves.
When Mencius discusses the government of kings
already we feel a buzzing in our ears.
Later scholars were even wordier,
so pedantic with their piles of books.
The " Ever-Stable Granary " plan sounds great,
but Eastern Han saw troubles burgeon forth.
" Chariot Warfare " surely was the best,
yet General T'ao was wiped out on the field.
People at peace — but government grew;
if people are to live, statutes must first die!
No surprise that the spirit of the Three Golden Ages
long ago came to a grinding halt.