Homesickness (乡愁）

When I was a child, my homesickness was a small stamp,

Linking Mum at the other end and me this.

When I grow up, I remained homesick,

but it became a ticket by which I sailed to and from my bride at the other end.

Then homesickness took the shape of a grave, Mum inside it and me outside.

Now I’m still homesick,

but it is a narrow strait separating me on this side and the mainland on the other.

小时候，乡愁是一枚小小的邮票，我在这头，母亲在那头。

长大后，乡愁是一张窄窄的船票，我在这头，新娘在那头。

后来呀，乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓，我在外头，母亲在里头。

而现在，乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡，我在这头，大陆在那头。

                                                                                                            －余光中