My Grandfather’s Castings

My mother’s father had been something of a ladies’ man 

Back in Japan. He never got a chance to advise me 

About the looks in a woman’s eye or the need to use 

Words carefully, because he went back to Japan 

After his wife died. I was on the brink at 13; 

Too young to learn anything from him yet; too old 

To fear his leaving would deny me anything. 

When I planned to see him at the age of 30 

He was 88 and dying. I had been a failure in any way 

Of meeting a woman’s look or speaking with one. 

He had planned to introduce me to some eligible 

Women in his village, but it was too late for him 

Or so I thought. On my way back from his land, 

I happened to meet a woman in Hawai‘i, whose voice 

Reminded me of something I had not heard in 17 

Years. On one of our first dates, we saw an old man 

Casting for fish off the reef, the way my grandfather 

Used to cast in California in the way he never taught 

Me then. I was learning something from him now 

And a few months later, at our wedding, I knew 

He had arranged it all, when a light rainfall, well known 

In Hawai‘i as a blessing on our marriage, graced 

Our ceremony for just the few moments after we left 

The church and before we had made our way 

Into a new life, guided by my ancestors.