Rosemary and Pansies/The Paradox-Monger

by Bertram Dobell

THE PARADOX-MONGER

With gay assurance he will undertake
To prove all's right in heaven and on earth,
That no such thing as evil e'er had birth.
Or if it had 'twas born for goodness' sake:
He'll bring a godless nation back to God,
The devil too he'll rehabilitate,
And either at your choice will vindicate
With logic much like Gilbert's and as odd:
Questions of fate, necessity, free-will.
He settles easily as A B C;
Of every mystery he holds the key;
A nostrum he can find for every ill:
But while he thus deals out his meal of chaff
How welcome were a Rabelaisian laugh!