# C. Pruyn Stringfield explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A playful limerick introduces C. Pruyn Stringfield, a physician in Chicago who is well-regarded and busy with patients, though with a humorous twist suggesting he may be preoccupied with his own stock.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Satire

The limerick format and the punchline about 'bo-peeping his stock' inject a lighthearted, satirical tone into the description of the physician.

### Work and Profession

The chapter centers on C. Pruyn Stringfield's identity as a physician, highlighting his professional reach and the demands of his practice.

## Key lines

> This boy is a regular doc With patients in every block, But if you fall sick And want him right quick, You’ll find him bo-peeping his stock.

This fellow is a typical doctor who has patients all over the neighborhood, but if you become ill and need him urgently, you'll discover he's busy playing hide-and-seek with his inventory.

_The paraphrase captures the humorous contrast between the doctor's busy practice and his apparent distraction._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/c-pruyn-stringfield
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters