A Passing

[tectak]

It bore a trace of fern, unfurled a smell A "....a scent"
of loose barked silver birch and stretching oaks. B
Then dallied by the poplar's narrow strokes B
and wooed a hermit thrush that trilled along C
a branch; its spotted breast so proud in song. C
The parted bluebells blushed within the glade D
as chorused foxglove sang inside the shade, D
the mottled woodland wrapped me in its spell. A "the mottled copse intoned its sad lament."

The years, like winds of old are cast away A
and with them, gone the softness of the trees. B
Now terracotta houses rise like sails C
and sewerage pipes are threaded through the brae. A
No more the wooded hills, no more the breeze. B
No more summer's dell and lost, the vales. C

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thanks for all the feedback this is the 1st edit

original.
A Passing

It carried scent of ferns, unfurled a smell
of loose barked silver birch and stretching oaks.
Then dallied by the poplar's narrow strokes
and wooed a hermit thrush that trilled along
on branch; its spotted breast so proud in song.
The parted bluebells swayed, within the glade
as chorused foxglove sang aloud in shade,
the mottled woodland wrapped me in its spell.

The years, like winds of old have bled away
and with them flew the softness of the trees.
now terracotta houses rise like sails.
and sewerage pipes are threaded through the brae.
No more the wooded hills, no more the breeze.
No more summer's dell, no more the vales.

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i pronounce sewerage as sew ridge

Billy,
For a rough-cut Rupert you have NAILED this one to the board. Of course, it IS my kind of thing but you have worked a weft of William into it that weaves in and out through the whole tapestry. It is quite beautiful and you should be suitably puffed up (as billies are wont to do).
Excellent edit and all credit to you....but I still don't like SMELL and its implication of unpleasantness. My suggestion is just that...a suggestion.
Best,
tectak

Hi billy,
presumably you want to keep your A to A intact and though musk gives you a deal of rhyming choices it is a little more animal than vegetable...if you get my drift. I only suggested the scent/lament because you had the somehow mournful "singing" in the wood so it fitted both the local and the global intent. You will make the right choice I am sure.
Best,
gectak