The House that Jack Built

An English Poem

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Retold by The Legendary Connection

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The House That Jack Built (A Modern Retelling)

This is the house that Jack built.

This is the door, sturdy and bright, That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the boy, with laughter and cheer,
Who chases the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the girl, who plants with care,
Who helps the boy, with laughter and cheer,
Who chases the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the sun, so golden and high,
That shines on the girl, who plants with care,
Who helps the boy, with laughter and cheer,
Who chases the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the rain, so gentle and true,
That waters the earth, beneath skies so blue,
That welcomes the sun, so golden and high,
That shines on the girl, who plants with care,
Who helps the boy, with laughter and cheer,
Who chases the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the tree, so tall and grand,
That drinks from the rain, so gentle and true,
That waters the earth, beneath skies so blue,
That welcomes the sun, so golden and high,
That shines on the girl, who plants with care,
Who helps the boy, with laughter and cheer,
Who chases the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

This is the world, connected and bright,
That thrives with the tree, so tall and grand,
That drinks from the rain, so gentle and true,
That waters the earth, beneath skies so blue,
That welcomes the sun, so golden and high,
That shines on the girl, who plants with care,
Who helps the boy, with laughter and cheer,
Who chases the mouse, so quick and spry,
That startles the cat, all sleek and sly,
That teases the pup, with a wag and a bark,
That waits by the door, sturdy and bright,
That swings on the house that Jack built.

Moral: Everything in life is connected, from the smallest creature to the grandest tree. Through care, kindness, and a bit of curiosity, we help build a thriving world together.

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Original Source: Randolph, Caldecott. “The House That Jack Built
One of R. Caldecott’s Picture Books.” Gutenberg.org, 2024, www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12109/pg12109-images.html. Accessed 25 Feb. 2025.