through flood through fire

changing the angle doesn't change the fact
what's there is not what we might desire
we play the fool but cannot play the lyre
the things to show are plain caution and tact
had we the entities that we had lacked
we might have let matters go up on the pyre
but though flames go high and heat higher
with doubts and indecision we've been racked
let every choice come down to this plain hope
we aren't afraid of what has to be done
the world exists for needs that are not ours
we have to climb till we are out of rope
take what we can from failing light of sun
and hope that all we want is in our powers