守岁

欲知垂尽 ^① 岁，

有似赴壑蛇。

修鳞 ^② 半已没，

去意谁能遮？

况欲系其尾，

虽勤知奈何！

儿童强不睡，

相守夜讙 ^③ 哗。

晨鸡且勿唱，

更鼓畏添挝 ^④ 。

坐久灯烬落，

起看北斗斜 ^⑤ 。

明年岂无年，

心事恐蹉跎。

努力尽今夕，

少年犹可夸。

注释

①垂尽：快要结束。②修鳞：长蛇的身躯。③讙（huān）：同“欢”。④挝（zhuā）：敲打，此处指更鼓声。⑤北斗斜：谓时已夜半。

Staying up All Night on New Year's Eve

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.

If we try to tie down its tail,

We can't succeed whate'er we do.

Children will stay up and regale

Themselves with feast the whole night through.

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.

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.

赏析

本诗细致描述了人们守岁的情景与心情。作者用形象的蛇蜕皮喻时间不可留，暗示要自始至终抓紧时间做事，免得时间过半，虽勤也难补于事。 ciGFHsjDSBeRi9oXRAV0dpKsgY2PH6DE3TppJnBYrcsWrtH9oR4ZjLy4im+lnKtz