time will say nothing but I told you so

I will never run out of Auden poems. This is partly because he was incredibly prolific, and partly because I adore him. This one is a classic; it's also a villanelle, which is one of my favorite poetic forms; I love it more than I can say.

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.

—W. H. Auden (1907-1973), "If I Could Tell You," October 1940.