Paper-boat Incense (In Memory of Ma Hua and Ma Yan)

Two years ago I found this paper-boat incense

in a small grocery store in Erkan Village,

on the west island of the Penghu Archipelago.

I didn't know then that before long,

both Ma Hua and Ma Yan would be gone.

So I only bought one stick of incense,

not intending to use it for mourning.

I placed it on my desk as decoration,

a little paper boat with a stick of incense,

sailing in the breeze from my manuscripts.

Last week I finally lit it.

The flame didn't last long, but the smoke

became a small boat in the wind,

blowing, wavering and dissipating.

I looked at the paper-boat carrying the smoke

sailing quietly through the room

and thought: it is possible that

Ma Hua and Ma Yan are standing somewhere

on the other shore of the world,

seeing the little boat with the smoke coming,

and saying: here it comes.