home builder sonnet

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  🙂

33 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Ciscography's avatar Francis
    Oct 28, 2020 @ 03:33:37

    Nicely done, it’s almost like an allegory of the human condition, especially today.

    Reply

  2. Ingrid's avatar Ingrid
    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!

    Reply

  3. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry
    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!

    Reply

  4. Dora's avatar Dora
    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!)

    Reply

  5. hank77's avatar hank77
    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

    Reply

  6. Becoming His Tapestry's avatar Becoming His Tapestry
    Oct 27, 2020 @ 19:04:31

    Love this, without that firm foundation, the building will fail

    Reply

  7. sanaarizvi's avatar sanaarizvi
    Oct 27, 2020 @ 18:30:53

    Foundation is everything when it comes to both.. building a house and a relationship 💝

    Reply

  8. Björn Rudberg (brudberg)'s avatar Björn Rudberg (brudberg)
    Oct 27, 2020 @ 15:59:07

    Oh yes… you cannot have it all without a solid foundation.

    Reply

  9. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli
    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?

    Reply

  10. Lucy's avatar Lucy
    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.

    Reply

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