Today is the big day - daunting Gaokao,
Which I attended many many years ago...
The memory never really faded away,
Still fresh as if it happened yesterday...
You have changed so many people's lives,
For good, for bad, that everyone strives
To figure out what you are exactly!
A question hard to reply, open and tricky...
You inspire, encourage, and stimulate
But also depress, distress, and frustrate.
You think you are all-powerful, invincible,
Yet a killer, found by many unbearable...
Kids are toiling hard, burden on shoulder,
To make the scores a little higher and higher.
Losing the sparks in the eyes, disoriented,
They fight a game Einstein may have failed...
Millions of children rush to this only aim;
They succeed or fail; a few quit the game...
No matter what result they have in this strife,
They may fail this game, but never the life...