The Tell-Tale Heart
After 'the tell-tale heart' from E.A. Poe, 1843
While the old man slumbers,
A shimmer in the dark is cast upon the bed
In a sickening desire, infatuated longing
To witness the vulture's eye in the light's shed
Oh, but never the eye is opened
Biding his time, night after night
Watching sweet ignorance, vanity rising
Feelings of triumph and might
Conceited chuckles disturb the silence
The innocent man awakes from repose
In mortal terror he shivers
An unseen shadow of death lingering close
"Who's there?", the old man cries
But no answer returns
Then, a dim ray of light pierces through the darkness
Shining right upon the damned eye,
For which the madman so yearns
Oh, the beating of his heart increases
Rising and rising, beats in the night
He who's been waiting
Can't take it no longer
Feelings of terror and fright
One shriek in the night,
And it's all over...
Stone dead body,
Breathing nevermore
Cutting up the corpse in pieces
Placing them carefully under the floor
Man of justice, alarmed by the shriek
Are brought to the chamber of the deed
But do not find what they seek
Then the madman starts to hear
A sound like the old man's heartbeat
Foaming and raging, he screams:
Villains, I admit the deed!