For the season …

 Sunday was the first day of Advent. As usual, here 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.