New Year's Watch

Soon know approach end year be like go to hole snake Long scales half already disappear Go all trace who able stop If wish tie his tail Even if diligent know to no avail Children try not sleep Mutual watch night cheer noise Dawn chicken for now not cry Further, drum respect increase Sit long lamp ashes down Rise see north plough slant Next year not natural span of years Worry fear waste time Exert oneself to utmost today evening Youth still ability praise Soon now, we'll mark the year's end that approaches, It's like a snake that crawls into a hole. Already half its scaly length is hidden, What man can stop us losing the last trace? And even if we want to tie its tail, No matter how we try, we can't succeed. The children make all effort not to sleep, We laugh together, watching through the night. The cockerels should not cry the dawn for now, The drums as well should give the hour respect. We sat so long the lamp's burnt down to ash, I rise and see the Plough is slanting north. Next year, perhaps, my span of years could end, My fear is that I've just been marking time. So exert ourselves to the utmost here tonight, I still admire the exuberance of our youth!