Subverting the Expectations of Jack and his Candlestick

There’s a title, huh? I was just going through some of my older poetry and thinking what might be a fun poem to share: something light and whimsical and all that. Hopefully I haven’t shared this here, but a few years ago that old line popped into my head, “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick…” and so on. Naturally, being somebody who likes to turn things on their heads, I wrote an alternate version: which I intend upon sharing! It’s real dumb, but aren’t all the best things? I actually read and led with this at a poetry reading I was asked to attend, resulting in glorious crickets! Well, I liked it, at least! Anyways, here’s Jack Versus the Candlestick…

Jack Versus the Candlestick

Jack be nimble, 
Jack be quick, 
Jack jumped over the candlestick!
Jack came down—
An awkward landing—
Jack is having a hard time standing.
Jack sees the doctor:
Jack's got a bum leg.
Jack’s out of work and he has to beg.
Jack be weary,
Jack be weak,
Jack is thirsty and barely can speak.
Jack sees a candle:
Jack flashes back—
“Why did I jump over that candle?” thinks Jack.
Jack's leg recovers,
Jack’s life moves along,
Jack makes it his mission to right a great wrong:
Jack sets down a candle,
Jack steels his resolve,
As a man, Jack has grown and through trials evolved!
Jack starts to run,
Jack leaps toward the sky,
Jack clears the candle! (Jack’s leg doesn’t die.)
Jack be triumphant,
Jack be at rest:
Still, candles are one thing he’ll always detest.