Wittingshire: Poem Sunday: Longfellow

Over at Wittingshire, Amanda has reprinted Longfellow's "A Psalm of Life" and has background on the poet.

I'd forgotten that his wife died after a sentimental family project using sealing wax went tragically wrong. (She was sealing envelopes containing cuttings of her children's hair, and her dress caught fire. Yikes.) That's why he grew his famous beard - his face got scarred when he rushed to help her.

Amanda has that story and more, plus links.