Nostalgia

乡愁

by Yu Guangzhong

作者：余光中

When I was a child,

小时候，

Nostalgia seemed a small stamp:

乡愁是一枚小小的邮票，

Here am I

我在这头，

And there, my mother.

母亲在那头。

Then I was a grown-up,

长大后，

Nostalgia became a narrow shop ticket:

乡愁是一张窄窄的船票，

Here am I

我在这头，

And there, my bride.

新娘在那头。

During the later years,

后来啊，

Nostalgia turned to be a low graveyard:

乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓，

Here am I

我在外头，

And yonder, my mother.

母亲在里头。

And now at present,

而现在，

Nostalgia looms large to be a shallow channel:

乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡，

Here am I

我在这头，

And yonder, my Continent!

大陆在那头