SOURCE: “G. K. C.,” in The Christian Century, Vol. XLIX, No. 22, June 1, 1932, p. 705.

In the following review of the Collected Poems, Clark emphasizes Chesterton's frequent use of paradox.

Paradoxical always, Mr. Chesterton lives up to his reputation in this new collection of his poems. He has put into the book his whole paradoxical self—newspaper rhymester, with briefs like

Mince-Pies grant wishes: let each name his prize, But as for us, we wish for more Mince-Pies; 

anti-prohibition pamphleteer; Roman Catholic champion; foe of freakish modernist poetry; playboy of literature, with takeoffs on the classic poets, Wordsworth, Byron, Swinburne; master balladist, with his masterpiece, The Ballad of the White Horse in 100 pages; biting critic of nationalism, with his “The World State,” beginning,

Oh, how I love Humanity, With love so pure and pringlish, And how I hate the horrid French, Who never will be English! 

foe of war and...