The Seven Sorrows of Yunnan is a set of poetry written by Li Yuyang in 1815. These pieces were in response to the catastrophic effects of the eruption of Mount Tambora. The eruption led to a three year period of drought, crop failure, and famine where the population of Yunnan suffered immensely. He depicted the social and political changes that came to be as a result of desperation. The next few poem are taken from Li Yuyang's collection.
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You open the Li Gate, and the hungry millions moan
At the smell of gruel. You give a bowl to the grown man, Half to the child. But don’t you see the strong men push forward, While the old stumble? We wait until noon, Bellies hollow like thunder. But your porridge Is like water. I will come again tomorrow, If I am not already dead. I will beg again for porridge, but quietly, so not to anger you. |
The quality of the porridge served from the reserves was horrendous and it was not long before the reserves were depleted and the people were left to their own devices once again.
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Outside, the starved corpses pile high,
While in her room the young mother Waits upon her child’s death. Unbearable Sorrow. My love, you cry to me to feed you – But no one sees my tears. Who can I tell which aches More? My heart or my body wasting away? She takes her baby out to the deep river. Clear and cool, welcome water… She will care for that child in the life to come. |
This poem was written in 1817, the worst part of the Tambora famine. A young, starving mother drowned her young child in the river before also taking her own life.
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300 copper coins for a bag of grain
300 copper coins for three days of life Where can the poor people find such money? They barter their sons and daughters on the streets. Still they know the price of a son Is not enough to pay for their hunger. And yet to watch him die is worse. Think of our son’s body as food, as grain for one meal. The little ones don’t understand, how could they? But the older boys keep close, weeping. Stop crying and go with him. Selling is A blessing, because to buy you he must feed you. The cold wind blows in their faces, The parents wipe their tears away. But back home they cannot sleep While the birds moan like old men in the night |
Parents sold their children in illegal markets hoping that the buyers would be able to feed and shelter the children.
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