修鱗半已沒，Over half of its long scales are out of sight.
去意誰能遮。Who can stop its intention to depart?
況欲系其尾， I am trying to hold its tail,
雖勤知奈何。As hard as I can, but fail.
兒童強不睡， The kids decide to linger,
相守夜歡嘩。Making it a gay all-nighter.
晨雞且勿唱， Roosters, please dont crow this morning.
更鼓畏添撾。Drums, your sound makes us feel scaling.
坐久燈燼落， The candles burn out as I stay up sitting.
起看北斗斜。The Plough has slanted when I stand up watching.
明年豈無年， Is there no more new year to come?
心事恐蹉跎。 I am afraid of wasting time as the same.
努力盡今夕， Do to cherish tonight,
少年猶可夸。 Boast of having a young heart!
PS. Today is the last day of the lunar Year of Snake . Coincidently, the poet used a slithering snake to illustrate the passing year. Was the eve he wrote the poem also the last day of a Snake? I am not sure; anyway, wishing all of you a propitious Year of Horse!
