if one drafts blueprints for a lovely home
you must consider every detail well,
for family and friends to feel welcome
and when you leave the property will sell.
place windows to allow natural light
yet insulate to conserve energy
do you want doors a standard width and height?
should you design with perfect symmetry?
plan how to best use space in every room
a basement or a second floor include?
back deck or outdoor patio presume
to bring fresh air and set a pleasant mood
’tis folly if foundation’s not secure
stability of residence… be sure!
True for building a house, a life, or a nation. Join the follies at dVerse 🙂
a poem in my pocket 
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:53:31
This is very true. The house may look great until the rains come and it floods from all the foundation cracks. Sometimes it requires more work to fix a foundation than fixing other smaller details that we get hung up on. A good metaphor for society to remember!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 15:14:48
Yes, you “plumbed” this poem accurately. Thanks, Tricia 🙂
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:06:56
I really enjoyed the feel of this. What a lovely way to impart common sense!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:09:56
Good to see you here, Freya 🙂 Glad you liked it!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 06:20:38
What’s not seen is often more important than the embellishments. I like the build up to the ending. (K)
Oct 28, 2020 @ 13:50:55
Thanks, K 🙂
Oct 28, 2020 @ 04:37:49
What reads at first like sensible advice for those who only want to make a maximum of profit from a future house sale, has turned into a cautionary tale on the folly of unbridled selfishness by the end. Good one!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:08:35
I appreciate your comments, Jane 🙂
Oct 28, 2020 @ 15:10:55
My pleasure 🙂
Oct 28, 2020 @ 03:33:37
Nicely done, it’s almost like an allegory of the human condition, especially today.
Oct 28, 2020 @ 13:54:44
Thank you, Francis. Perhaps I came to the underlying issue through the back door…so to speak.
Oct 28, 2020 @ 02:37:56
It sounds like you have things well planned out. I think such a property could be a fine family home and sell well afterwards!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 13:57:41
Thank you, Ingrid. Our youngest son is an associate architect and is drawing house plans 🙂
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:00:10
😊
Oct 27, 2020 @ 22:04:08
Very well written Lynn. Sounds like you have experience in designing and building a house. You are right all that is folly without a good foundation!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:03:17
Thanks for your comments, Dwight! We in the dreaming/drafting stage of a possible future home 🙂
Oct 28, 2020 @ 16:12:32
Wonderful. I hope it works out for you!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 17:39:27
Thanks, Dwight 🙂
Oct 27, 2020 @ 21:49:26
Lynn, I like the way you methodically walks us through the finer points of constructing a house just to remind us of the need for a solid foundation. Without it, all else is folly indeed! (Nicely constructed poem!)
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:04:20
I appreciate you coming to view the construction site of my poem, Dora!
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:25:29
My pleasure!
Oct 27, 2020 @ 21:06:45
kaykuala
’tis folly if foundation’s not secure
stability of residence… be sure!
Sometimes the basics are found wanting and the whole endeavor is compromised!
Wonderful sonnet lynn!
Hank
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:05:16
Thank you, Hank!
Oct 27, 2020 @ 19:04:31
Love this, without that firm foundation, the building will fail
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:06:00
Yes, like Jesus’ parable of house built on sand!
Oct 27, 2020 @ 18:30:53
Foundation is everything when it comes to both.. building a house and a relationship 💝
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:06:33
That is for certain…thanks for your comment!
Oct 27, 2020 @ 15:59:07
Oh yes… you cannot have it all without a solid foundation.
Oct 28, 2020 @ 14:08:19
Absolutely!
Oct 27, 2020 @ 15:52:41
Lynn, important considerations for “a house, a life, a nation.” It reminds me of my year of anatomy and physiology in college (pre-nursing that I never went on to become a nurse with) my professor always emphasized “complementarity of structure and function.” A home built on folly might be fun in the doing, but will it shelter you in the long run?
Oct 27, 2020 @ 15:54:32
Excellent question, Lisa…thanks.
Oct 27, 2020 @ 15:41:24
Very lovely piece here, Lynn. Without a set foundation, as you imply, it will all fall down. Excellent writing.
Oct 27, 2020 @ 15:44:21
Thank you, Lucy! I appreciate your comments.