with due preparation

what choices made by those who cannot trust
the common way or ordinary mode
we leave them be to do those things we must
in order to secure a safer road
for those without the wit to know the code
but ready still to answer when we call
we do not want the foolish to appal
but all things take their own time to unfold
we leave it to the madman to stand tall
and scorn the silver when we get the gold

the things we value all soon turn to dust
the safest place in fury may explode
and calmest fellows show a deep bloodlust
or show more courage than has been bestowed
on normal folk now when we find the load
is neither one that's easy nor that's small
only a fool would stop and shout and bawl
but learning duty doing what you're told
is proper caution just avoid the brawl
and scorn the silver when we get the gold

we don't want all our efforts to go bust
the wisest rooster's not the one that crowed
too early that one's warm beneath the crust
too slow and all our wisdom may corrode
in fuming acid or so we forebode
the horse must come forth steady out of stall
ready to do its job and that is all
that we should expect let the thing unfold
at a good pace between a run and crawl
and scorn the silver when we get the gold

prince as you sit in your proud judgment-hall
you might not worry what's beyond the wall
yet you'd be safer not to be as bold
as one who does not think he'd ever fall
better to concentrate on the long haul
and scorn the silver when we get the gold