‘Master? Can you tell me the meaning of these two flowers that have appeared in the snow?’

The Master thought awhile.

‘Both represent a sense of sadness which I will explain. First, I’d like you to answer a question for me. Why does the crocus push up his head before so many other beautiful flowers?

‘The first is named Saffron, once a mortal boy who became unhappy with a nymph by the name of Smilax. The gods saw fit to transform him into a crocus. They turned her into Bindweed.

‘The other is the companion of Hermes, accidentally killed in a game of Discus. Hermes memorialised his friend as a flower. Which is which and why so early?’

The student thought awhile.

‘Why was saffron unhappy with Smilax? Why a crocus and not a daffodil or a cabbage? Bindweed? What’s that? Who was Hermes? How do you play Discus? And I still wanna know why a crocus?’

‘Questions! Questions! Questions! I was just the same as you at your age.’

‘Yeah. You told me. And now you’re the Master. But you still don’t know why they come out so early, do you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t keep asking me every year.’

‘What did I say last year?’

‘You didn’t! You spouted a haiku. I guess the answer to your question is they’re there for inspiration. They’re also a cure for gout, you know?’

‘I didn’t know that. Would you like to hear an inspirational poem?’

‘Does it rhyme?’

‘Of course not. It’s inspirational, isn’t it.’

‘Go on then. Then I’ll make up a limerick, OK?’

The Master thought.

‘Sunshine inspires
Purple petals and poems
Spring in the Spirit

– your turn.’

The Student thought.

‘There was a locust called Bogus,
Who sat down to focus on crocus
Got ‘it in the ‘ead wiva discus, they said.
The crocus said, ‘Thank God, he missed us!’

‘Where’s the romance in that?’

‘It rhymed, didn’t it!’

Master and Student sat contemplating. The crocus reminded them that a new term was starting, another chance to enjoy the benefits of a state-funded education.