乡愁 Nostalgia

This is one of the most famous poems written by Yu Guangzhong, a renowned writer from Taiwan. Entitled "Nostalgia", this poem vividly described the flesh-and-blood relationship between people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

小时候
xiǎo shí hòu
When I was a boy

乡愁是一枚小小的邮票
xiāng chóu shì yì méi xiǎo xiǎo dē yóu piào
Nostalgia was a tiny stamp

我在这头
wǒ zài zhè tou
I was at this end

母亲在那头
mǔ qīn zài nà tou
My mother at that

长大后
zhǎng dà hòu
When I grew up

乡愁是一张窄窄的船票
xiāng chóu shì yì zhāng zhǎi zhǎi dē chuán piào
Nostalgia was a slim steamer ticket

我在这头
wǒ zài zhè tou
I was at this end

新娘在那头
xīn niáng zài nà tou
My bride at that

后来啊
hòu lái ā
Years later

乡愁是一方矮矮的坟墓
xiāng chóu shì yì fāng ǎi ǎi dē fén mù
Nostalgia was a squatty tomb

我在外头
wǒ zài wài tou
I was out

母亲在里头
mǔ qīn zài lǐ tou
My mother was in

而现在
ér xiàn zài
But now

乡愁是一湾浅浅的海峡
xiāng chóu shì yì wān qiǎn qiǎn dē hǎi xiá
Nostalgia is a shallow strait

我在这头
wǒ zài zhè tou
I am at this shore

大陆在那头
dà lù zài nà tou
The mainland is at that