After a fresh new coating, they gleam.
Golden rays of the sun bursting at the seams.
They appear festive, they appear bright.
Their diamond stones cut through the thickest of nights.

Lustrous and smooth, gallant and grand,
They dangle from your hands.
They dance and rattle and shake
And sing and shout and clink and clank.

Gilded gold, the shackles and cuffs
Just adorned the finest buff.
Still, they clench your once naked wrist
Your sin receives the brash, golden kiss.

Tightly, they embrace your ankles
From your neck, like vines, they dangle.
They’re beautiful, like silk whips.
Embellished like the white lies on the threshold of their lips.

You ball your fists.
You grind your teeth.
You can paint your chains gold.
But the brilliant glimmer won’t set you free.