# Fred C. Schwab explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief, humorous reflection on Fred C. Schwab, a tire dealer and former neighbor, expressing a wish to delay a visit to him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Satire

The narrator's wry hope to delay a visit to an old neighbor is delivered with playful irony.

### Community and Companionship

The mention of an old neighbor evokes the bonds of past community, even as the narrator jokes about postponing a reunion.

## Character check-ins

### Fred C. Schwab

Tire dealer in Chicago and former neighbor of the narrator.

## Key lines

> For me, an old neighbor of his, it Is not very neighborly, is it, To hope that some time Will pass before I’m Obliged to pay Freddie a visit?

As a former neighbor, I admit it's unneighborly to wish that I won't have to visit Freddie anytime soon.

_The narrator humorously acknowledges the awkwardness of wanting to delay seeing an old neighbor._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/fred-c-schwab
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters