# Philip R. Clarke explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief, humorous quatrain about Philip R. Clarke, president of Federal Securities Corp. in Chicago, who wishes for an all-year-round baseball season instead of winter.

## Themes in this chapter

### Humor and Satire

The quatrain uses lighthearted humor to express a whimsical wish for perpetual baseball season.

### Work and Profession

Philip R. Clarke is identified by his professional role as president of a securities corporation.

## Character check-ins

### Philip R. Clarke

Subject of the quatrain; president of Federal Securities Corp., Chicago, who humorously advocates for a year-round baseball season.

## Key lines

> He cannot see any good reason Why God made the winter to freeze in. If it were left out, He’d insist, this old scout, On an all-the-year-round baseball season.

He sees no justification for winter's freezing cold; if it were eliminated, he would advocate for baseball to be played all year long.

_Summarizes Clarke's humorous complaint about winter and his desire for perpetual baseball._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/philip-r-clarke
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters