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If I could tell you by W.H Auden

User Profile: LiveandLearn15
LiveandLearn15 June 21st, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AeefPqVZKA

Time will say nothing but I told you so,
Time only knows the price we have to pay
If I could tell you I would let you know.

If we should weep when clowns put on their show,
If we should stumble when musicians play,
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

There are no fortunes to be told, although,
Because I love you more than I can say,
If I could tell you I would let you know.

The winds must come from somewhere when they blow,
There must be reasons why the leaves decay;
Time will say nothing but I told you so.

Perhaps the roses really want to grow,
The vision seriously intends to stay;
If I could tell you I would let you know.

Suppose the lions all get up and go,
And all the brooks and soldiers run away
Will time say nothing but I told you so?
If I could tell you I would let you know.

2
User Profile: DemiMondaine
DemiMondaine June 24th, 2025

@LiveandLearn15 thank you for sharing this particular one by Auden, Live - not one I was familiar with so I took a look into it. A curious examp!e of the villanelle structure and of the use of zeugma, apparently. I can see what he's done, mind - raged against the smug knowingness of time. It's rather like when peop!e say trite things such as 'time heals'. My rejoinder to that was, 'well, it has a very long waiting list'

June 25th, 2025

@LiveandLearn15 This is a wonderful poem. 🤗