Poetry · Chapter
David R. Lewis explained
A brief limerick about David R.
What happens
A brief limerick about David R. Lewis, a Chicago banker who is generous to those in need but refuses to lend money to poets, humorously highlighting his cautious lending practices.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the story's dramatic climax because the speaker confronts the painful realization that his child’s lov…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Money and Materialism
The limerick humorously critiques the banker's selective lending, emphasizing financial prudence and the value of money.
- Humor and Satire
The poem uses wit and exaggeration to poke fun at banking practices and the poet's plight.
Characters to notice
- Lurid Lew
The subject of the limerick, a Chicago banker known for lending to those in need but not to poets.
Key passages
“David R. Lewis Banker, Chicago Most people who need it can owe it To Dave, if they swear they won’t blow it, And I’m sure you can trust His bank not to bust, For he won’t lend a dime to a poet.”
David R. Lewis, a banker in Chicago, allows most people in need to borrow money if they promise not to waste it, and his bank is reliable because he refuses to lend any money to poets.
Summarizes the limerick's content and its humorous critique of the banker's policy.
