John Greenwood was an enterprising young man, and a carpenter;
Like tireless planets in motion, throughout prismatic, starry wonder.

Everyone he knew called him Jack. He built fine houses for a living.
Jack wanted to build his own home, for he was strong, and willing.

Having already purchased farmland, he set about building his home;
Like honeybees, building for summer, when in the sweet syndrome.

He would live there for the moment, and with his someday spouse;
But, couldn't know of future calamities, that fate sometimes allows!

Often he and a few friends went to town, on Fridays of food and fun,
Sometimes frequenting a festive carnival; like lavish party just begun!

Other times, colorful family visited, in the excited, first days of spring;
For family overlooks all flaws, like the first rising, mauve rays, seeking.

Jack would live in the house of industry, like dragonflies near a lake,
Ruby colored in the tall, active reeds, until the purple skies overtake.

The site was bordered by shade trees, songbirds and yellow daisies,
And a path that led to somewhere; as all paths tell different stories.

Nuit noire was long in coming, in a noontime of shadows, escaping;
And nearer the site, necessary neighbors came, under red sky, blazing.

Hollyhocks bloomed in pinks and orange, on a road named for them;
When rainbow plumes sparkled after the storm, sunshine on a stem.

And blue delphiniums reached for the sun, on mornings of grandeur;
Like the grandeur of a sunny patio, with apricot rose trees in planters.

Trouble came inconspicuously with some grain, Jack put in his house;
When 'twas nearly finished. It spurred a causal chain, of ins and outs!

It involved a rat, a cat, a dog and a cow, and a maiden living nearby;
Also a tattered man who kissed the maiden, for love you can't deny.

A shaven, shorn priest soon married them, after cock crowed at morn;
As his farmer sowed corn, on his farm with a horse, a hound and horn.

Jack rallied after the unlucky events, finishing his house, very beautiful;
And later wed the girl of his dreams, as what hearts say, is indisputable!

Like everlasting stars which twinkle, amaranth and merigold, distant fire.
A person does whatever he must, to achieve dreams and heart's desire!

'This is the house that Jack built.
This is the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cat that chased the rat,
That ate the malt that lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the cock that crowed in the morn,
That woke the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That killed the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the farmer sowing his corn,
That kept the cock that crowed in the morn,
That woke the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.

This is the horse and the hound and the horn,
That belonged to the farmer sowing his corn,
That kept the cock that crowed in the morn,
That woke the priest all shaven and shorn,
That married the man all tattered and torn,
That kissed the maiden all forlorn,
That milked the cow with the crumpled horn,
That tossed the dog that worried the cat,
That chased the rat that ate the malt,
That lay in the house that Jack built.'