The Self, the Mirror, the Other

Descending alone, we two bore the coffin to its rest
His dearly beloved sister consumed by death
"Madeline, my darling, why did you slumber so?
The warmth of your flesh has disappeared and left me here all alone"

Now, open the door! Open the door!
"Hand me your torch! Hand me your torch!"
Small, damp, dark, can hardly breathe
Terrified to see what lies beneath

To sleep above the one that sleepeth forever
The copper archway lay directly below my room!
Gunpowder smell inside the dungeon-keep
The massive iron door grates sharp and low

The mournful burden lay there upon a trestle, now
The open coffin arrests attention newly found
A striking similitude between the Ushers lie
The sickly face of brother, the sister newly died
"True, we were fraternal in this life
She is my darling sister-wife
Blood-bound as lovers intertwined
Amidst this darkness, she was my light"

Smiling there, she lies so fair
Bosom red, "my love is dead"

Replacing and securing the lid
The countenance of Madeline was obscured
Closing behind us the massive iron door
We ascended with toll up to the empty home