Madeleine

The house sinks slowly, desolate, alone
Silence in the land around
Curses linger at the door
And will be felt forevermore

Madeleine combs her raven hair
It's luster gleaming in candlelight
She awaits her lover, riding near
Certain that there's naught to fear

He arrives, raps at the door
The knocks echoing through ancient halls
The house sinks lower in benighted ground
Settling where his lover combs her hair...

He sees her form before the mirror
Death not stilling the strokes as tresses fall
They yet grow, each strand a liar
And in her eyes remains desire.

Suggested by Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher"