She lay alone upon her bed,
In shadowed gilded walls.
Fresh chains ordain her tortured head;
This Queen of lavish gall.

She wastes her day all locked away,
Her shackles leave her numb. 
But bound by fear like hunted prey 
She rots there deaf and dumb.

The sun goes down in apt review, 
As muted there she stays.
No light nor love could reach her view,
As living turns decay. 

Her reign is born of must not choice
Deluded minds deduce.
Excuses used co-opt her voice
To justify abuse: 

“Yes this I’m due” replays inside,
As night turns back to day,
“There’s none worth less” her thoughts decide
“Than I who lost my way”.

Around and round these words repeat,
As light gives way to dark.
With each new dusk comes fresh defeat
For one with dreams so stark.

This life she hates must be her fate,
Reasoned thoughts conclude.
Condemned to rule her sombre state 
For sins she past accrued:

“Though Queen I am, both Queen and slave
Are hostage to regret,
I hold the yoke in freedom’s grave –
By memories beset.”

But if you ask her for what flaw
Or crime she must atone,
She only knows that her withdraw
Will right these wrongs unknown:

“These bonds of shame are tough to break,
Still more so with the key,
It shows in truth the chains are fake,
I’ve none to blame but me”.