it's proverbial

we ask for nothing but the taste of hope
what comes beyond that we won't know
time we have learned is longer than a rope

if we can manage here or simply cope
with how the river flows or doesn't flow
we ask for nothing but the taste of hope

the answer's in a metaphor or trope
what makes the poem plod or really go
time we have learned is longer than a rope

if we're unlucky we'll face a long downslope
we'll go down faster than ever we can throw
we ask for nothing but the taste of hope

our fingers are made slippery with soap
we slip off those things that make us slow
time we have learned is longer than a rope

a final answer well that's beyond our scope
we doubt that we'll be filled with a true glow
we ask for nothing but the taste of hope
time we have learned is longer than a rope