Lessons from a Cowslip

​Primula veris 

Gender: Feminine
Element: Water
Planet: Venus
​

The cowslip, herb of Venus, always reminds me of my Dad. He taught me many valuable lessons over the years - this one was humility and a new respect for his wide range of knowledge. 

In fifth grade we were formally introduced to poetry writing! I was thrilled, and shared one of my poems with my Dad. He praised the originality, but then noted my “iambic pentameter was off”. I was insulted, and not entirely convinced that he would recognize great poetry if he saw it!  

After an extensive search I found an obscure (I thought!) poem by the master, William Shakespeare. I copied it – omitting Bill’s name – and handed it to him. He adjusted his glasses, began to read out loud – "Where the bee sucks, there suck I” . . . A smile crept across his face and he handed the paper back to me, removed  his glasses and without pause continued - “ in a cowslip’s bell I lie . . .” and finished reciting the entire sonnet by memory.

Busted! Maybe in addition to being a calculus professor, he had learned a little about poetry. When I see cowslips, I'm reminded to be humble and not to underestimate the talents of others.