Three cold days and four warm days. That is how the month of March is like around here. A little warmer, a little colder, acquiring warmth with each small step. Spring comes slowly.
Today is one of the warm four days, and a holiday. I awake early. As I walk up to my studio, I notice ume flowers are blooming. A pair of bush warblers are busily sucking the nectar, not minding my presence. I observe for a long while, sharing their joy of having a fresh breakfast.

Decorated by flowers
and visited by birds,
this aged ume branch

I check my e-mail. The daughter of a recently deceased haijin has sent me written permission to use the haijin's haiku for my haiga. I upload the haiga on my website. I then read haiku submissions from overseas. As I peruse, some ideas for the haiga begin to come. I gather tools and necessary references, and spend engrossed hours making haiga. Three haiga materialize and two do not. All the while I have the FM radio on, tuned in to the usual music station.

A mega-hit song
after so many springs
still stings my heart

Suddenly, light falls on my working desk, almost spotlighting me in a dim room. It turns out to be the early evening sunlight reflected on a neighbor's window. Time to go home. I notice the air is much cooler. It looks like tomorrow will be one of the cold days.