I once worked with a doctor who would laugh and say "If you ask six doctors for an opinion, you'll get twelve different answers," meaning there can be lots of ways to approach diagnosing and treating patients. When I choose an optional theme like "In like a lion..." I go searching to see what the internet has to say about the phrase origins. And just like "six doctors, twelve answers" there is seldom any definitive explanation. In this case, the saying "Comes in like a lion, goes out like a lamb" refers to the month of March (mostly) and is supposedly a simple proverb about winter not yet gone as March begins, but more gentle as it moves into spring. There are a number of variations on the wording of the saying, but they are alike enough to not worry about losing the meaning. Another explanation is astrological: March comes in under the sign of Leo and goes out under the sign of Aries (stretching things a bit to get from Ram to lamb). The problem with this explanation is that Leo isn't in play at the beginning of March, though Aries does show up on the 21st, in time to go out like a lamb. Some sources claim a broader application for the saying, applying it to human interactions that range from two people arguing and settling their differences, to countries going to war and then ending the war with a peace treaty. I leave such explanations to others to sort out. One thing I know about myself is that it's hard to be a lamb when someone is roaring at me, but I still try. Submissions for April 2024 will open on March 1 and close on March 10, or when I have 40 submissions, whichever is first. Please review the guidelines and follow them so your work gets considered. Jim Lewis, Editor