For the season

Today is the first day of Advent. So here, as usual, is my Advent villanelle: 

Advent

The leaves are fallen, but the sky is clear

(Though winter’s scheduling an arctic flight).

The rumor is a rendezvous draws near.

Some say a telling sign will soon appear,

Though evidence this may be so is slight:

The leaves are fallen, but the sky is clear.

Pale skeptics may be perfectly sincere

To postulate no ground for hope, despite

The rumor that a rendezvous draws near.

More enterprising souls may shed a tear

And, looking up, behold a striking light:

The leaves are fallen, but the sky is clear.

The king, his courtiers, and priests, all fear

Arrival of a challenge to their might:

The rumor is a rendezvous draws near.

The wise in search of something all can cheer

May not rely on ordinary sight:

The leaves are fallen, but the sky is clear.

Within a common place may rest one dear

To all who yearn to see the world made right.

The leaves are fallen, but the sky is clear.

The rumor is a rendezvous draws near.