I never once thought the end was nigh,
Until I gazed into that old man’s eye.
That vulture eye, so pale and cold,
Peering through the cracks in my soul.
its stare was lingering,
From room to room,
From dream to dream
What happens if I look away?
Will it infect me once I think I’m safe?
I keep a smile upon my face,
He cannot know I’ve solved the case.
His soul is brewing something lethal,
But I’m no fool — I can sense evil.
Floorboards creak beneath my tread,
My blood runs cold as I look ahead.
The old man sleeps, yet that eye is open
How does it know my thoughts, unspoken?
A thump..thump..thump fills the room. My chest tingles with impending doom. Whatever am I to do?
Seven nights I held it in,
The urge to end the fear within.
One strike upon the head–that’s all it takes,
Only a single cry he makes
For a moment, all was finally still,
Then I heard that cursed thing thumping still..
Had I failed after all?
I tore open the dead man’s chest,
And ripped out the vile beast within
And there it was, alive and strong.
What had I done wrong?
I stuffed it beneath the floorboards deep,
Where I could not hear that wretched thing beat.
the crime scene now was wiped so cleanly,
The only trace — my breathing, deeply.
But I had to keep my cool.
Before even the kids were up for school,
The officers came to investigate,
But I was sure they’d soon be on their way.
They can search every nook and cranny– my bathtub won’t reveal anything uncanny
My plan is flawless in pursuit
Until things took another route
Soon my body starts to shake —
As my head starts to throb with hate
I know that sound–all too familiar
Rhythmic pattern–my voice inferior
But—
It beats beneath the wooden floor,
Louder than it ever was before.
The grandfather clock mocks with glee —
Each second bleeds, each tick accuses me.
I scream aloud that I’m not insane!
I can hear that heartbeat clear as day.
How do they not hear it — there’s no way!
Are these officers inane?
Another thump rings through my ears,
But this time I’m sure — it’s drawing near.
It’s not his heart, it’s mine I hear, each beat a word:
“Confess, my dear.”
Under the floor, it calls my name —
“You know what you did! You cannot escape!”
How do I get away?!
It was me! Please, make it go away!
No surprise was shown on their face —
How did they know? I left no trace.
As I was led from that awful house,
Metal cuffs were holding me down.
I saw my face in the mirror’s part,
Smeared with the blood
Of that old man’s heart.
I saw my face in the mirrors part, smeared with the blood from that tell-tale heart
Apr 13
Apr 13, 2026 at 5:11 PM UTC
I never once thought the end was nigh,
Until I gazed into that old man’s eye.
That vulture eye, so pale and cold,
Peering through the cracks in my soul.
its stare was lingering,
From room to room,
From dream to dream
What happens if I look away?
Will it infect me once I think I’m safe?
I keep a smile upon my face,
He cannot know I’ve solved the case.
His soul is brewing something lethal,
But I’m no fool — I can sense evil.
Floorboards creak beneath my tread,
My blood runs cold as I look ahead.
The old man sleeps, yet that eye is open
How does it know my thoughts, unspoken?
A thump..thump..thump fills the room. My chest tingles with impending doom. Whatever am I to do?
Seven nights I held it in,
The urge to end the fear within.
One strike upon the head–that’s all it takes,
Only a single cry he makes
For a moment, all was finally still,
Then I heard that cursed thing thumping still..
Had I failed after all?
I tore open the dead man’s chest,
And ripped out the vile beast within
And there it was, alive and strong.
What had I done wrong?
I stuffed it beneath the floorboards deep,
Where I could not hear that wretched thing beat.
the crime scene now was wiped so cleanly,
The only trace — my breathing, deeply.
But I had to keep my cool.
Before even the kids were up for school,
The officers came to investigate,
But I was sure they’d soon be on their way.
They can search every nook and cranny– my bathtub won’t reveal anything uncanny
My plan is flawless in pursuit
Until things took another route
Soon my body starts to shake —
As my head starts to throb with hate
I know that sound–all too familiar
Rhythmic pattern–my voice inferior
But—
It beats beneath the wooden floor,
Louder than it ever was before.
The grandfather clock mocks with glee —
Each second bleeds, each tick accuses me.
I scream aloud that I’m not insane!
I can hear that heartbeat clear as day.
How do they not hear it — there’s no way!
Are these officers inane?
Another thump rings through my ears,
But this time I’m sure — it’s drawing near.
It’s not his heart, it’s mine I hear, each beat a word:
“Confess, my dear.”
Under the floor, it calls my name —
“You know what you did! You cannot escape!”
How do I get away?!
It was me! Please, make it go away!
No surprise was shown on their face —
How did they know? I left no trace.
As I was led from that awful house,
Metal cuffs were holding me down.
I saw my face in the mirror’s part,
Smeared with the blood
Of that old man’s heart.
I saw my face in the mirrors part, smeared with the blood from that tell-tale heart
So obviously this is insured by The Tell Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe, and I actually wrote this for my English project (technically it’s a song and I sang it, but it works as a poem too lol)
Request permission to use this poem