Sunday 15 March 2015

The Sunday Posts 2015/ Villanelle




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
Photo by Alistair.

4 comments:

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari Om
'Paw'fectly pitched... &*> YAM xx

DB Stewart said...

The villanelle's repetition is indeed powerful. See Mad Girl's Love Song by Sylvia Plath.

Bovey Belle said...

I was pondering over Auden in Addyman's book shop in Hay-on-Wye yesterday. In the end I bought Seamus Heaney instead. Next time . . . as this is such a lovely poem.

Alistair said...

Thanks folks.

This is a deep one to be sure.

Thanks for the tip dbs - I'll have a look at SP.

The Sunday Posts 2017/Mince and Tatties.

Mince and Tatties I dinna like hail tatties Pit on my plate o mince For when I tak my denner I eat them baith at yince. Sae mash ...