The poem
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 all the lions 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.
This poem had to be removed at the request of the publishing house who "owns" it, apparently.
I'm sure Auden would lurch in his grave.
How simply delightful that the drive to make money should supercede the sharing of simple words (insert sarcasm here).
Exactly, and it's not like removing his poems from this site would keep them off the numerous other sites they are featured upon.
Can't a kid do her poetry assignment without running into all these copyright laws?
highly ambiguous in thought and theme. not ornamental, but well decorated in diction.
i was very upset that the poem was removed. no one can really own a poem and im sure it wasnt written for that purpose.
Greatly dissapointed at the removal of this poem. The "copyright excuse" is not going to stop other websites from featuring it (I already found another one!). This is such a beautifully written poem, even if one has to work a little harder to see in to its meaning (one being about time and how only our mistakes can be taught to us through time-no one else can truly tell us our mistakes). I agree that WH Auden would probably be turning in his grave too.
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…
Read the whole commentTime 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.
I would like to understand the poem but I doubt if anyone but the author would be able to explain the meaning. Thank you Auden