the object of research

i seek in words the weavings of the state
to say what is and what is not in clear
terms to define and show that what is dear
is what we made so there's not need for fate
to justify what happens at each date
the signals travel quickly through the air
yet all that happens turns out at last unfair
the facts and values slowly aggregate
we draw the maps and measure out the space
the roads are clearly marked so are the hills
the rivers show up in the brightest blue
and yet we find that now we cannot trace
how much it cost and who paid all the bills
but now a greater reckoning comes due