Ralph Windle

The House That Jack Built

Where are the hands that made the wheel
That turned the lathe and shaped the steel,
And helped a thriving nation feel
Proud of the house that Jack built?

Where are the brains that led the West,
Industrialised before the rest,
And made us feel that Britain’s best,
Because of the house that Jack built.

Where are the girls and where the boys,
With buoyant step and eager poise,
The promise of our future joys,
Here in the house that Jack built?

Where are the hearts that used to care
For sick, or old, or in despair,
And say there’s room for you in there,
Safe in the house that Jack built?

Where are the arms that fished the sea,
That built the ships and kept us free,
And made the future seem to be
There in the house that Jack built?

Where are the minds that could contrive
The spinning-wheel, the jet, the drive
That made it good to be alive,
And live in the house that Jack built?

Here are the arms, the minds, the hearts,
The kids, the hands, the brains, the parts,
The skills, the hopes, the needs, the arts,
Still in the house that Jack built!

But where are the wise, the leaders who
Will call for what they crave to do,
To build the house and build it true,
Just as that other Jack built?