The God and the Spider

Once a god sat on the horizon, 
watching a spider big as a coconut spin a web in a palm tree.  
Suddenly the wind tore through the web,
blowing the spider to the ground.

If you will lift me up into the tree again, 
I will spin another web.

 How do I know you won't bite me?  asked the god.

 What possible reason could I have for biting you?  said the spider.

The god could think of none,
but as she reached down to lift the spider into the tree,
 the spider bit her on his thumb.

Spider,  cried the god,
Why have you bitten me? 

Why should I be in pain and you at peace?  replied the spider,
scurrying up the tree and out of the god's reach.

And that is how what you don't know can hurt you.

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