James Weldon Johnson, ed. (1871–1938). The Book of American Negro Poetry. 1922.
I Want to Die While You Love Me
I
While yet you hold me fair,
While laughter lies upon my lips
And lights are in my hair.
And bear to that still bed,
Your kisses turbulent, unspent
To warm me when I’m dead.
Oh, who would care to live
Till love has nothing more to ask
And nothing more to give!
And never, never see
The glory of this perfect day
Grow dim or cease to be.