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If I Could Tell You by W.H. Auden   
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If I Could Tell You

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  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.

W.H. Auden


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  Comments about this poem (If I Could Tell You by W.H. Auden )
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  Naveed Akram  (1/22/2008 2:06:00 PM)

If I could tell someone something this poem shall evoke enough strength to come out with the right vocabulary and grammar and syntax. Most persuasive over its message, Auden lets us engulf ourselves in the poem itself, to ward off improper thinking and thoughts. To keep clean the mind is of maximum importance. To be patient is too important.
With outstanding romance and feelings of remorse the speaker is calling for a reasonable action to be acted. Inside the poem are words to shock, words that swing and collide. For instance, ‘winds’ are mentioned by the speaker of this poem to reiterate the pledge for allegiance. Winds will have to come from somewhere and this is easiness in accepting the truth, of why it was told so.
Imagery is the main trick of a poet, and here the images are presented well because they are driven by way of similitudes. These are perfectly matching, and show no contradictions.
  Tash Goethals  (5/18/2006 7:28:00 PM)

This poem is awsome! The structure, emotion and message it contains in unbelieveable. I love the sounds of the words.
All time fav poem!

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