--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - McCune, Leone E. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 33 number: 5 published: 1930-03 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: "Leone E. McCune, “Winds,” *Improvement Era* 33, no. 5 (March 1930): 319–319." source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3305unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera3305unse start_page: 319 end_page: 319 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1930-03) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera3305unse publication_year: 1930 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1930, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Winds Winds By Leone E. McCune OH winds that blow the whole day long, Now sad, now sweet, now gay, now strong! I love the wind that brings the breath Of hyacinth and applebloom; Of dank, fresh earth, and swelling buds That waft their fragrance through my room, I love the winds that whispering pass O'er yonder pine-tree studded hill, That weep and sigh and kiss the wheel And echo through the lonely mill. I love the winds that sweep the skies, . That whip the trees and tear the sod, And lash the windows, wet with rain, Like shrieking of an angry god. I love the winds with icy blast When snowy blankets wrap the earth, When firelight gleams in cozy rooms, And kettles hum upon the hearth. I love the winds from salty seas That churn the ships in demon's den, That hurl the waves high on the shore, And mock and jeer at fears of men. I love the winds at morning's dawn, When dainty zephyrs fluttering pass To sip the flow'r-cups nectar sweet, And strew its dewdrops on the grass. Oh winds that blow the whole day long, Now sad, now sweet, now gay, now strong ! 7 HE coming of Springtime is an experience so breath-taking as to require some form of expression more adequate than mere words. There must be the lilting joy and beauty of poetry; and some of the lovely songs of western poets seem almost too fragile to be captured by words. The poems on this page are alt of Spring. New ones there are, and old ones too, but so eternal is the spirit of the season that the songs of yeprs gone by are quite as glad as those of this very March. If you have any doubt that Spring is on its fragrant way, read, and be con- vinced I Spring in Salt Lake Valley By Jessie Miller Robinson OAPPHIRE the Dead Sea as the skies; «~ ' Over the brown, fresh-furrowed earth The white- winged seagull, screaming flies; The sego-lily wakes to beauteous birth The vales with blossoms girdled deep; Mantled with verdure are the hillsides steep. From Ice-king's thrall the mountain rivu- let Is freed; and in the grassy dells appear The sweet anemone and golden violet, With budding oak and willow whisper- ing near, While meadow lark and robin sing The glorious coming of the spring. Re-creation By Lowry Nelson ZLOVE a wind in a willowy lane, When billowy clouds Are sowing rain; When birds and brooks Have come again, And each thing Throbs with spring. I'm glad for these — the wind, the rain; And lovely willows Which line the lane; O Maker of willows And Maker of men, Thanks for making Them new again! Laughing, Spring By Minnie Ioerson Hodapp LAUGHING spring with airy charms, Fairy, flower-laden arms, Tripping o'er the verdant mead Let me follow where you lead. Breathing balmy blisses sweet In each quiet, blest retreat; Artless, winsome, gleeful, wild Like a merry-hearted child. Every bush and briar and glen Vocal with your glee again, Lark and blue-bird on the wing, Hark! Yon balmy rapturing! Violet-twined your wavy hair Robes of shining green you wear- Tripping o'er the verdant mead Let me follow where you lead! Spring's Coming By Harold Goff /\ STRAIN of music from the moun- oJL tain crest — The wind's soft whisper and a bird a-wing; A glow of promise in the east and west — Earth smiles a welcome to the new- born Spring. Where Angels Smile By Harold Goff GRAY Winter, bent with age, goes on his way; And Spring comes tripping like a happy child; Now tiny flowers lift their heads to say: "Here is a spot on which an angel smiled." To the Wind By Hope Spencer Owind, thou spirit of the spring, Thou instrument of gladness. Art never weary of thy song? Dost never taste of sadness? Among the bubbles of the brook Thou singest ever merrily. Amid the trees of every glade Thou fliest and ne'er steps't warily. The clouds that sweep across high heaven By thee are onward driven; The perfume of a thousand flowers Alone by thee are given. Thou bringest no evil in thy path, But only mirth and gladness; Along the river bank thou breath'st — ■ The reeds forget their sadness. The sunshine that with thee doth live Colors every hour. O, might I scatter with a heart Like thee, one-half thy power. No sigh nor tear, nor aching heart Can long withstand thy spirit; All things respond to thy faint touch And gladness follows near it. March By Ivy Williams Stone SCURRYING snowflakes — winds scent- ed with rain; Rifts of gold sunshine, then raindrops again. Home-seeking robins — a swift waterfall; Pale, groping tulips, the sea-gull's sad call. Each is a symbol, each plays its own part, But all sing a chorus — Spring in man's heart ! Spring By Jessie M. Robinson UTAH is now a garden Of tender sage and budding trees, With fragrant, golden violets And pink anemones. Soon in this lovely garden, Pure sego-lilies, one by one. Will lift their ivory chalices In worship to the sun.