乡愁

余光中

Nostalgia

Yu Guangzhong

小时候

乡愁是一枚小小的邮票

我在这头

母亲在那头

When I was young,

Nostalgia was a tiny, tiny stamp,

Me on this side,

Mother on the other side.

长大后

乡愁是一张窄窄的船票

我在这头

新娘在那头

When I grew up,

Nostalgia was a narrow boat ticket,

Me on this side,

Bride on the other side.

后来啊

乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓

我在外头

母亲在里头

But later on,

Nostalgia was a lowly grave,

Me on the outside,

Mother on the inside.

而现在

乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡

我在这头

大陆在那头

And at present,

Nostalgia becomes a shallow strait,

Me on this side,

Mainland on the other side.

        1972 （余光中 译）