receipt of signals

those worthies fail to measure every clue
leaving unknown the line of our retreat
but not a one of us admits defeat
instead we turn and look upon the view
so much is left for each of us to do
that we must keep up the long steady beat
no one would claim that we'd commit deceit
but all we say now seems not quite so new
those answers come when we are said to sigh
not daring speech under the heavy grey
since each of us now fears that we are blind
but simple truths don't come from open sky
and honest fact is not just what you say
but what you are the rest comes in the mind