ear to the ground

how much we do not know we learn too late
this is the teaching of the school beneath
to leave the weapon safely in its sheath
and not to tamper hastily with fate
no hurry till the storms of time abate
we've seen what monsters lurk on the high heat
hand know the meaning of those shining teeth
there are some certainties beyond the gate
now having wisdom does not mean to smile
only at those who have not paid the fee
but proper kindness has a sharpish price
and there is no simple way we could revile
the ones who thought they had to bend the knee
not knowing that we'd made the sacrifice