Poetry · Chapter
Lt. Col. N. M. Percy explained
A brief limerick pays tribute to Lt.
What happens
A brief limerick pays tribute to Lt. Col. N. M. Percy, a surgeon from Chicago, as recalled by a grateful doughboy whose life was saved through Percy's skill and divine mercy.
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
- Work and Profession
The limerick highlights the surgeon's professional skill and the gratitude of a patient, emphasizing the value of dedicated work in medicine.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
The doughboy who speaks in the limerick, reflecting on his survival and the surgeon's unusual title.
Key passages
“A doughboy, preserved by God’s mercy And the skill of a surgeon, said “Nursey, Will you tell me why This he-guy from Chi Travels round with a title like ‘Percy’?””
A soldier saved by divine grace and a surgeon's expertise asks a nurse why the Chicago doctor goes by the name 'Percy'.
The doughboy's playful curiosity about the surgeon's name underscores the mix of gratitude and humor in the aftermath of war.
