鼠 Rat:            yes, i admit betraying the cat as my only close friend

                       but i won the race, with my head rather than my legs

 

牛 Ox:             to honor my contract with the yellow sun

                        i eat green grass, yet give red meat to man

 

虎 Tiger:         as the only feared king of the thick jungle

                        i am afraid and tired of my own timidity

 

兔 Rabbi:        with my cagey ears held so high

                        i will not miss a sound of peace

 

龙 Dragon:      although my portraits hung lively above the clouds

                         no human eyes have ever seen my authentic being

 

蛇 Snake:        the moment i sloughed off my old slim self

                        i forgot ever seducing any manhood in heaven

 

马 Horse:        my body looks more masculine than a strong man

                        and my heart feels more feminine than a tender girl

 

羊 Goat:          when i bleat towards the passers-by

                        i never mean to speak in another voice

 

猴 Monkey:     each time i try to find any lice in the corner of my mind

                        i act like the humans outside the fence with barbed wire

 

鸡 Rooster:     with my wings plumed with the feathers of night

                        i cannot fly but to crow loudly towards dawn

 

狗 Dog:           given my canine camaraderie and pack mentality

                        i feel at home before, among or behind soldiers

 

猪 Pig:             i spend all my lifetime wisely

                        to guard this single moment