Private - See? [Edit 2]

[REW]

Private - See?

From altitude, each new-built suburb looks
Quite different.  In the vistas of its streets,
Viewed from the ground, McMansions crowd like books
On bookshelf-roads, beyond which eyesight meets
Brick walls, a man-made lake or leafy wood.
Developments seem closed, each one a cell
Which no one’s gated yet, but surely could
Be sealed hermetically if darkness fell.
Yet viewed from high up, borders that concealed -
Walls climbable, lakes raftable, thin belts
Of trees that seemed deep forest - stand revealed
As artful follies:  separation melts.
    How simple, if all trust in what they see,
    To slake the house-proud lust for privacy.

---

Another one about houses   .

I tend to agree with you (although you are not exactly saying this here) that houses have a spirit.  I like this because it is surprising with its modern theme.  It is so true that people think that they have a certain amount of privacy.  Then you have something scary like Google Earth and you can even zoom in on a property to check out the cars in the driveway!  It kind of makes you wonder to what extent we are all watched.  It is so much worse because of all those crazy drones now and lord knows what the government has cooked up to watch us...I do like this piece and I like the little sing that your last line, "To slake the house-proud lust for privacy" brings to it.  I suppose I disagree a little because I do not feel people who procure McMansions are after privacy.  Then again I have not surveyed people.  I hate McMansions (no offense to anyone).  I feel that they are sterile and lacking in charm or architecture of any merit.  Private?  Well most seem to me to be seriously lacking in real trees; although, the yards are manicured.  I tend to feel as though those buying McMansions are after status and keeping up with the Jones-es.  But I do not really know and I do really like what your piece reveals about privacy.  It is all just for show.  At least we have roofs.  Oh my!  I thought solar panels were encouraged for privacy!  Satellites and drones can peek through those.

I like your comparison of the houses and the roads to books on a shelf.  I also like the thought of the cells...The title is cute too.