Want to know what the passing year is like?
A snake slithering down a hole.
Half his long scales already hidden,
how to stop him from getting away?
Grab his tail and pull, you say?
Pull all you like–it does no good.
The children try hard not to doze,
chatter back and forth to stay awake,
but I say let dawn cocks keep still!
I fear the noise of watch drums pounding.
We’ve sat so long the lamp’s burned out.
I get up and look at the slanting Dipper.
How could I hope next year won’t come?
My mind shrinks from the failures it may bring.
I work to hold on to the night
while I can still brag I’m young.
translated by Burton Watson
Leonard Durso 
the last two lines I can relate to – but I fear it’s too late…
Well you’re definitely still young at heart.
Thank you
Reblogged this on Another Kind Of Grass.
Thank you for reblogging one of my favorite Sung Dynasty poets.
You’re welcome, loved that poem!
Why is it compared with a snake?
It’s just a metaphor. The main point is once it’s gone, it’s gone. You cannot pull it back. The snake from the hole, the days that have passed.