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.
This line may bring us back to  the clown metaphor  from a few lines ago. For a lion to be put in a cage is viewed as cruelty and not being in their natural environment, which may be how Auden felt. A lion must be very brave to escape from the circus, which may be what Auden himself wants. 

If I Could Tell You