March: T.S. Eliot said that April is the cruelest month.
April: Yes, that’s right.
M: I beg to differ. It’s March.
A: Nope, the poet is right.
M: The poet is wrong.
A: Could both be cruel?
M: Nope.
A: Are you the new poet laureate?
M: No, I sit around on my laurels 11 months of the year, but I am not a poet.
A: Well then, what are you?
M: I am March, and I am bad to bone.
A: To the bone?
M: Yes, to the bone.
A: Me too.
M: You come on strong, but then towards the end you wimp out.
A: You don’t say.
M: I do say.
A: Perhaps so. But my beginnings are mighty fierce.
M: Take a look at my record this year. I began and ended with a storm.
A: That ending was just a squall.
M: Hey, but I was consistent.
A: You’re saying I’m not? I am more so than you.
M: Well, lets get down to brass tacks here and talk about cruelty.

A: T.S. Eliot meant that everyone is hoping for spring; however, the bad weather drags on and on.
M: In March, yes.
A: And in April. And April comes after March. It’s that long wait for spring that gets to them.
M: But you know that March has the highest suicide rate.
A: Is this something you are proud of?
M: Goodness, no. This is merely a statement of fact.
A: We seem to be going around in circles here. We need to come to a decision about which month, April (me) or March (you), is the cruelest month.
M: I suggest that we take a poll.
A: A poll of whom?
M: Our cohorts.
A: Huh?
M: A Cohort is a buddy with similar values. Our cohorts are the other months of the year.
A: Are you saying that September is a cohort? Our paths have never crossed.
M: That’s right. My path crosses with February and your path crosses with May.
A: I can tell you what February is going to say.
M: What’s February is going to say?
A: That it is the cruelest month.
M: There could be some truth to that. And I can tell you what May is going to say.
A: What’s May going to say?
M: That we ought to give up our day jobs and next year head south for two months.
A: This is a good idea, but it can’t be done. Otherwise, the calendar will have a gap. It’ll go from February to May.
M: That’s okay. Those affected can blame the weather extremes on climate change.
A: That’s not ethical.
M: You know what Bob Dylan once said.
A: What did Bob Dylan say?
M: “You don’t have to be a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.”
A: That’s very cryptic.
M: Okay. So for now let’s leave it at this – March and April are the most cryptic months.
A: T.S. Eliot would roll over in his grave if he heard that one.
M: Well, none are as dead as those who can’t provide commentary.

Next: 94. 4/5/21: When Work is Play and when Play is Work