The Cherry Snows

I found this poem while searching through a public domain library of poetry during the early winter months of 2011. Needless to say, I immediately feel in love with this gentle, yet emotional piece of literature. With text as delicate as this, I felt the best style to use was acapella. Keeping the lines in an even, yet flowing form, simulating the even-like descent of snow, the four voices build upon each other to make exquisite harmonies, exhibiting text painting, accompanied by smooth and flowing melodic lines. Text The Cherry-snows are falling now; Down from the blossom-clouded sky Of zephyr-troubled twig and bough, In widely settling whirls they fly. The orchard earth, unclothed and brown, Is wintry-hued with petals white Even as the snow they glimmer down, Brief as the snow's their stainless white. -Clark Ashton Smith (1893-1961)