余光中是著名的诗人，也是著名的翻译家，他将英美诗歌译成中文，也将中国诗歌译成英文。就像郭沫若先生所说的，“诗人译诗，以诗译诗”。他翻译诗人的诗，而他的诗也在被诗人翻译。
乡愁是什么？
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
后来啊
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
我在这头
——余光中《乡愁》
我们这一代人关于乡愁的集体记忆，是余光中先生给的。他用最简洁的文字，最朴素的比喻，描绘出了一个最隽永的意象。让乡愁从此在每一位游子的心中有了具象，明明只是最平淡的叙述，却饱含最浓烈的深情，仿若有道不尽的思念，化不开的忧伤。
梁实秋曾说，“余光中右手写诗，左手写散文，成就之高，一时无两。”作为一名诗人，余光中在台湾写下这首《乡愁》，从此广为传颂，诉说了几代人对大陆的思念，对统一的期盼。
正如本文最开始所提到的——他翻译诗人的诗，而他的诗也在被诗人翻译。
接下来我们整理了《乡愁》几个名家英译本，我们一起来看看吧！
Nostalgia
When I was young,
Nostalgia was a tiny, tiny stamp,
Me on this side,
Mother on the other side.
When I grew up,
Nostalgia was a narrow boat ticket,
Me on this side,
Bride on the other side.
But later on,
Nostalgia was a lowly grave,
Me on the outside,
Mother on the inside.
And at present,
Nostalgia becomes a shallow strait,
Me on this side,
Mainland on the other side.
1972 （余光中 译）
My Homesickness
During my childhood,
My homesickness was a small stamp,
To mail to my mother far away,
From which I stay.
When I grew up,
It changed into a shipping ticket,
A little bit narrow,
To help me sail meet my bride by boat.
And then,
My homesickness turned into a lower tomb.
Outside the tomb I was standing dumb,
Inside it my mother lived as her home.
But now,
My homesickness means the sea beach is shallow.
Still I am on this shore instead of the mainland shore,
Though the sea strait is narrow.
（朱曼华 译）
Nostalgia
Me a child,
Nostalgia was a little little stamp.
I was in here
And Mother was there.
Me grown up,
Nostalgia was a small small boat ticket.
I was in here
And my bride was there.
Later on,
Nostalgia was a lowly lowly tomb.
I was outside
And Mother inside.
And today
Nostalgia is a shallow shallow strait.
I am in here
And Mainland is there.
（赵彦春 译）
Homesick
When I was a child, my homesick was a small stamp
Linking Mum at the other end and me this.
When grown 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 the grave,
Mum inside of 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.
（陈文伯 译）
Nostalgia
In my childhood,
nostalgia seemed to be a little postage stamp;
I here,
Mother there.
When I grew up,
it was like a little boat ticket;
I here,
my bride there.
Later,
it took the form of a low, square grave;
I outside,
Mother in.
And now,
it is just a sea strait;
I on this side,
the mainland on that.
1961（Rewi Alley译）
Nostalgia
When I was a boy
Nostalgia was a tiny stamp
I was at this end
My mother at that
When I grew up
Nostalgia was a slim steamer ticket
I was at this end
My bride at that
Years later
Nostalgia was a squatty tomb
I was out this side
My mother was in that
And now
Nostalgia is a shallow strait
I am at this shore
Mainland is at that
（晚枫 译）
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