Seen at a Gate (was House Poor) - edit4

[Joshua Smith]

Thanks for your excellent critique.  In the revision, I've tried to ease the reading... though I did retain one or two phrases you found objectionable.

For example, I've altered lines 9-10 to reverse the logic and place "has" at the beginning of l. 10 instead of the stronger "boasts" which was leading me to read it,  BOASTS NO fence SO de MAN ding OR so FINE, varying away from strict iambic.  The same thing does happen at the beginning of l. 7, but I kept it for its little joke "..ON his OWN/LAST RE si DENCE..." as the meaning of l. 6 changes with what follows.

Not really a dizain, since it doesn't follow the prescribed rhyme scheme... perhaps a Shakespearean sonnet with the third quatrain missing 

Very glad the nuances/possible symbolism or philosophy came through!

It is sad to see the word "boasts" go, but the last line does read better for me.  I did see the spondee at the beginning of the seventh line.  I think that is an accepted substitute for strict IP, but I am not sure.  The play between six and seven is very fun.  Your poem is very good, and any qualms I raised are minuscule.  You packed a lot into this, yet it still feels light and fun.