Complaint of a low official Tom Sharp

They send me out of the city on some errand and God knows why it has to be me. I leave by the North Gate, depressed; my effort isn’t worth what they pay me. When I return, my own family reproaches me. I get even less respect than when I left. They say the emperor demands it, but God knows why it has to be me.

北门 诗经

出自北门，忧心殷殷。 终窭且贫，莫知我艰。 已焉哉。天实为之，谓之何哉。 王事适我，政事一埤益我。 我入自外，室人交徧谪我。 已焉哉。天实为之，谓之何哉。 王事敦我，政事一埤遗我。 我入自外，室人交徧摧我。 已焉哉。天实为之，谓之何哉。