Two years ago I found this paper-boat incense

两年前，我在澎湖西屿的二崁村

in a small grocery store in Erkan Village,

买到这盒船香的时候，你们俩

on the west island of the Penghu Archipelago.

一个已经在天上，把白云抟出了

I didn't know then that before long,

雪山的韵脚，一个还在地上，

both Ma Hua and Ma Yan would be gone.

So I only bought one stick of incense,

在一滴清亮的文字里，接纳了

not intending to use it for mourning.

深夜里的风沙和一大群失眠的骏马。

I placed it on my desk as decoration,

现在你们俩都在那个高高的地方，

a little paper boat with a stick of incense,

或许，都长着一对汉语的翅膀。

sailing in the breeze from my manuscripts.

Last week I finally lit it.

你们划动的气流或许正在成为

The flame didn't last long, but the smoke

被群星传诵的、一光年长的诗行。

became a small boat in the wind,

你们或许会偶尔去看望对方，

blowing, wavering and dissipating.

从温暖的翅膀下拿出各自珍藏的

I looked at the paper-boat carrying the smoke

sailing quietly through the room

最好的时光，交给对方保管。

and thought: it is possible that

你们，如果真的偶尔会在一起，

Ma Hua and Ma Yan are standing somewhere

或许还会交换一下我们在人世间

on the other shore of the world,

那些像记忆一样不知所谓的想念。

seeing the little boat with the smoke coming,

and saying: here it comes.

我不知道是不是因为你们俩

今天的天空才蓝得如此坦荡，

就像你们喝了点小酒，每每

笑一小下，蓝天就朝更远处绽放。

且让我来为你们俩点上一支

二崁船香。那高高的地方或许没有

河流和海洋，但我愿你们的青春之躯

如挂满风帆的智慧一般畅行在天堂。

此刻，我看见船香的包装盒上印着

“好胆麦走”，闽南语，意思是

有胆量就别走。这句话我很想说出口：

假如你们没走，假如我们的性情和血肉……