I love the lips aglow with warmth of life,

I love them more because they’ll soon be cold.

I love all flesh that palpitates with life,

I love it more knowing it soon shall be

An inert, flimsy mass of fetid tissue.

I love the voice that rings with sounds of life,

I love it more knowing ’twill soon be silent.

I love the mind pregnant with living thought,

I love it more knowing that soon ’twill be

The tomb of thought.