A cappella Publisher Desc.  The Cross of Snow is based on a poem of the same name by American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882). In 1861, Longfellow lost his wife in a tragic accident in which a candle had lit her dress on fire. He attempted to extinguish the flames by flinging himself onto her but to no avail, and he was left with severe facial scars as a result. It is a poem of grief, despair, and haunting guilt at the prospect of a loved one's death, but also the joy and love that comes with celebrating their life.