Moon Blocks

When facing a conundrum

Grandma would go to fortune tellers for advice

But this time she sought help from gods

A young man was presented by the matchmaker

To be the prospective husband

For my youngest aunt

Grandma wanted to be sure

Her daughter would have lasting happiness

So she asked gods

Went to the altar

She held a pair of wood blocks

With the shape of crescent moon

On the third lunar day of the month

Each piece with a yin and a yang side

After saying her prayers

Silently grandma made her query

Then circled the blocks

Over the incense burner thrice

She tossed them to see the result

Once they landed on the ground

Grandma got a yes

As one block was yin side up

The other yang up

But not so fast

She had to get three straight yes

For a decisive positive answer

On her second try

She got both yang side up

Symbolized her question was unclear

Her third attempt was even worse

Both yin sides were facing air

Implied an angry no

So grandma rephrased her question

Again and again she tried

Finally a definitive “yes” bestowed on her

But her brow still furrowed

Asked her why

She said her last inquiry was

“Am I asking unanswerable questions?”

By Shih-Fang Wang

From: United States