# Walter Clyde Jones explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A brief limerick introduces Walter Clyde Jones, a patent lawyer who spends his time listening to inventors, with a humorous suggestion that the constant exposure to their ideas might drive him mad.

## Themes in this chapter

### Work and Profession

The limerick focuses on Jonesey's occupation as a patent lawyer and the peculiar challenges of his work.

### Humor and Satire

The limerick uses humor to depict the potential mental toll of dealing with inventors.

## Character check-ins

### Jonesey

The subject of the limerick, a patent lawyer who listens to inventors.

## Key lines

> Here’s Jonesey, whose time’s mostly spent In list’ning to guys who invent. Before he is through, He may go crazy, too, From mingling with guys which has went.

Jonesey spends most of his time listening to inventors, and the poet suggests that this may eventually drive him insane.

_The limerick humorously exaggerates the stress of Jonesey's profession._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/walter-clyde-jones
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters