# Nearly a Sinecure explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

The narrator observes his young child pretending to go to the office, only to return home moments later, and humorously envies the child's effortless job.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Satire

The poem humorously contrasts adult work with a child's imaginative play, satirizing the concept of a 'sinecure.'

### Innocence and Growth

The child's innocent imitation of adult work highlights the gap between childhood fantasy and real responsibility.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The narrator watches his child play at going to the office and wishes for such an easy job.

### Young Stranger

The child who pretends to commute to the office, only to return home seconds later.

## Key lines

> I’m going to the office.

The child announces he is heading to work.

_The child mimics adult behavior by declaring he is going to the office._

> I don’t know what they pay him, Nor where the office is. The nature of the boy’s posish I’ve never learned⁠—but how I wish I had that job of his!

The narrator admits he has no idea what the child's pretend job entails, but he envies its apparent ease.

_The narrator humorously expresses envy for the child's imaginary, effortless job._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/nearly-a-sinecure
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters