This is driving me nuts. I've read the manual (no help). I've read a couple of online tutorials (it's SO easy!!) no it's not.
Either I'm really dumb or this isn't as simple as I feel it should be.

In particular, I'd like to have a gradient over some text (converted to path). But it.will.not.work.
I am attaching my current pain and agony in the hope that someone out there will tell me where I'm going wrong.
Please note: the file is *not* empty - select the entirety of the grey bg rectangle, and you will see the outlines of two objects.
Once you've selected an object, click on the gradient tool and you will see the gradient stops. Click on the node tool and you will see the text path.

Please spell out your solution in words of less than one syllable, suitable for a dimwit such as I.
Hopefully thanking some saviour out there in advance.

Hi.

Select the gradient filled objects and raise their opacity back to 100% from 0.

Another way to do this (if you want the objects to all have a single color instead of a real gradient, but spread across objects just like a gradient) is to use this extension: https://inkscape.org/de/~biapy/%E2%98%85objectgradient

Argh! (strikes head on desk multiple times)
Heartfelt thanks, Lazur.