Why The Gods Can Wait

 
When the gods could not sleep, 
they would lay a green leaf over each eye. 
Their undersides were so soft and cool 
that in no time the gods were sleep. 
One day a god awoke to find his leaves gone 
and, in their stead, a fat locust sitting on each eyelid. 
When he opened his eyes wide, the locusts flew off. 
 
Wait!   cried the god.You have taken my leaves.
 
Your leaves?  inquired one locust.
How could we know they were yours?
 
The wind gave them to me, the god replied. 
 
Then ask the wind for more, shouted the other locust.
 
The god went straight to the wind,
but the wind just shrugged.
The greedy locusts have eaten them all.
 
But what shall we do if there are no green leaves with soft undersides
to soothe us? moaned the god.
 
I will blow the locusts so far away, 
the trees will have time to grow new ones,
promised the wind.
 
And that is why locusts come once every seventeen years,
and why the gods are patient.
 

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