"On Houses" Summary

A mason asks Almustafa about houses, and he expresses preference for country over urban living. The house is one's larger body and is never without dreams. If he could, Almustafa would scatter houses in forests and meadows that people might enjoy the fragrance of the earth in their clothing. This may some day happen, but not yet. Fearful ancestors gathered behind walls, which separate the people's hearts from their fields. He asks whether bolted doors give them peace, memory and beauty, or just the comfort for which they lust. Comfort arrives as a guest but quickly becomes the host and ultimately master, tamer and puppeteer. It lulls to sleep and jeers at the dignity of the flesh, mocks sound senses, murders the passion of the soul and walks grinning to the funeral. Children of space should not be trapped...