守岁
Staying up All Night on New Year’s Eve
欲知垂尽岁， 有似赴壑蛇。
修鳞半巳没， 去意谁能遮?
The end of the year is drawing near
As a snake crawls back to its hole.
We see half its body disappear
And soon we’ll lose sight of the whole.
况欲系其尾，虽勤知奈何!
儿童强不睡， 相守夜谨哗。
If we try to tie down its tail,
We can't succeed whatever we do.
Children will stay up and regale
Themselves with feast the whole night through.
晨鸡且勿唱， 更鼓畏添挝。
坐久灯烬落， 起看北斗斜。
Cocks, wake not the dawn with your song;
Drums, do not boom out the hour now!
The wick is burned as I sit long,
I rise to see the slanting Plough.
明年岂无年，心事恐蹉跎。
努力尽今夕， 少年犹可夸。
Will there be no New Year’s Eve next year?
I am afraid time waits for none.
Let us enjoy tonight with cheer
So that childhood will longer run.