The Clearing - Edit2

[tectak]

The Clearing

To north of my house lay a little wood,
Perhaps ten acres thorny-vined and wild,
Cut by a deep ravine.  Town-bred, I could
Oft lose myself in it, by paths beguiled.
Last week a yellow Caterpillar came
(A diesel “Cat” full-treaded, blade-equipped),
And with élan tornados put to shame,
Uprooting every tree with claws steel-tipped.
Now ‘cross a bough-heaped, roughly-graded field
I see, not far, discovered neighbors new.
Soon other houses planned will rise, revealed,
That nesting-place for bird or squirr’l hold few.
    Some fuel and twenty tons of steel that roams
    Did this - those and the yearning dream of homes.

Author’s note: It transpires that the new development is named “The Preserve at Oak Grove.”  It has now been renamed “Nine Oaks.”

Hi duke,
idiosyncrasies. That's the problem. First of all, let's get in to the 21st. century. Capitalising of every line is not just retro, it is confusing, pseudo-poetic and to an unacceptable degree, pretentious. It was never a good idea and that is why it largely disappeared several decades back...along with "oft" and strangely vernacular ellisions masquerading as meter markers. "squirr'l" Huh? "'cross" Huh?
On meter, you have made a good effort...but I would encourage you to read this out loud. If you stick in your rendition you will know where meter or accent stumbles.If you do not "feel" the lumps and holes get someone else to read it to you. Thing is, you will have conditioned yourself to read it your way and your ear may hear but your brain will block.
Finally, you rely way too much on inversions. It is not poetic, it is a cop-out. "..by paths, beguiled","neighbours new" are examples which stand out, but you get close with "...rise revealed". It is irritatingly unnecessary.
I have little to say on the content except that as a cameo of a cliche (sorry, but Mr.Peabody's coal train has hauled it away..) there is nothing new...and if you begin with a conceptual cliche you really must try to disguise with dexterity. It has got to be clever, or witty, or so well-written that the skill becomes a cloak. It doesn't do it for me but I write like this often...then find a little later that there is something in the piece worth developing. I would encourage you to do the same.
Best,
tectak