简体中文
**By APD Writer He Wei **
When I was a child, Nostalgia seemed a small stamp: "Here am I and there my mother."
Then I was a grown-up, Nostalgia became a traveling ticket: "Here am I and there my bride."
During the later years Nostalgia turned to be a graveyard: "Here am I and yonder my mother."
And now Nostalgia looms large to be a channel: "Here am I and yonder my Continent!"
--Nostalgia, by Yu Guangzhong, translated by Yang Zhongyan
Yu Guangzhong, the author of the wide-spreading poem Nostalgia. The famous Chinese poet passed away in Taiwan at the age of 90 on Thursday.
As it is reported, Yu was in hospital several days ago because the changeable weather led to him pulmonary infection. Yu died shortly after his daughters went back Taiwan from abroad.
The younger generation of Chinese people must know him well for one of his representatives Nostalgia, which is adopted by the Chinese junior high textbook.
Majoring in foreign language, he published many poems on literature magazines before graduation. Being appreciated by Liang Shiqiu (1903-1987), a leading figure of crescent moon society and a famous Chinese essayist, Yu published his first poem collection – An Elegy To A Sole Boat.
“Yu writes poem with his right hand, essay with left hand, no one could bear comparison with his achievements,” said Liang.
On 23rd Oct, National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan celebrated his ninetieth birthday. It is the last time Yu made a public appearance. Some are curious about if he still writes poem, Yu asked during his speech that “why don’t you ask me if I still breath?”. For him, writing has nothing to do with the age, it is just as natural as breath.
He is tall and thin with gray hair. Behind the glasses, his eyes are no less bright than anyone. He held an inclusive attitude toward how to carry forward Chinese language and culture. In his view, Chinese people should not only inherit the quintessence of traditional culture, but also learn from the foreign culture.
The great poet has gone, but his gorgeous cultural heritages are left to the world.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
