The Clearing - Edit2

[dukealien]

Sincere thanks to my four (so far) fine critics.   The sonnet is now almost completely rewritten (and, following @tectak's advice, I read a half-revised version aloud to an audience with informative results).   Need to live with it a day or two in its revised state, making nips and tucks, before posting the update.

Without in any way offering it as an excuse, this was originally written as the bulldozer fell silent (and before the chipper started...  Ow!) - also before I placed a Post-It™ note inside the cover of my notebook reading "Eschew archaisms!"  The note is now curled and somewhat yellow.

Regarding capitalization, different discussion, elsewhere.