Hey Bud
Poking your tender head
Above soil’s chill grasp
A reflection of sun’s glow
Shining golden in delight
Proud challenge to winter’s hold
Hey Bud
Bringing hope and promise
To an earth held in its tight grasp
Welcome life
Hidden among brown leaves
Rising forth… resolute in faith
Charlotte-Anne Allen
I need the sun
It’s shining face
To light my day
And brighten the place
Breaking forth through clouds
Sun’s sparkle and cheer
Clears away mind’s shrouds
Lifts my spirits here
Though rainy days
Can bring needed calm
Sun’s welcome shine
Is a much-needed balm
Charlotte-Anne Allen
For an excellent meal, now leave no crumbs
A testament of preparation well done
Consumed with great appreciation
Coming together after contemplation
Now evidence of great worth and clout
We see crumbs that brought much help about
Good news perhaps or spoken words
As a symphony of music from joyous birds
Come together generously with our crumbs
Sharing, offering, giving whatever sums
Our bread, our cake, all morsels humbly given
Bring strength and encouragement for all the living
Charlotte-Anne Allen
We search to know
And want to grow
To do the right things
Whatever life brings
How do we back a fact?
Make sure the source is accurate
The real, the truth
Now that is sooth
When we don’t know how
In the here and now
God sees that which is
Know that we are His
We behold this creation vast
Knowing little of future or past
Only God who carries us through
To show love and kindness in what we do
Charlotte-Anne Allen
• Things that are hard can both protect and crack
• Our lives are like icebergs, holding much beneath the surface
• Change, whether slow or rapid, requires many adjustments
• The support of others covers many difficulties
• Use caution when navigating slippery situations
• Calmness can be cool and refreshing when things get hot
• A heated temper needs space and time to cool down
• A cold heart is an unhappy heart
• We can become numbed through adverse conditions
• Preservation of positive character helps bring and maintain lasting relationships
• Like people, frozen water comes in many forms and varieties
• Homes are formed in our very diversity… we penguins, polar bears, and seals
• Refractions through these prisms bring forth amazing results
• The shining Light of God displays beauty within
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Glowing hot
Beneath the ashes
Smoldering there
Pondering, waiting
Guard it well
With wisdom and care
A thought to encourage
Is goodness there?
Look now for warmth
For deep compassion
In flame’s sparking
Bring not destruction
What is kind
And wholesome true
Will guide the calling
To know what to do.
Embers resting
Beneath the ashes
Charlotte-Anne Allen
All creatures
Great and small
Created by God’s own hand
Looking now upon tender child
So too at wisdom’s touch
And silvered hair
Life’s stories
Like a swirl
Of colors
Shadowed depths and
Golden sunrise sunset
Upon us all
So beams His Light
Pray, fall gently
Upon unseeing eyes
To warm hearts
Breath life
Grant sight
Bring healing
Speak joy
We give praise
Charlotte-Anne Allen 1/10/2026
Winter’s chill bids us forward
Hood drawn closely
to thwart wind’s cold fingers
Ever ahead, we lean and hurry
Yet mindful of what has passed behind
Crunch of icy frost underfoot
Dormant grass muddy and withered
Brown leaves remnants of Autumn past
Yet still, the warmth of sun’s rays upon one’s skin
So too we meet each moment
Pausing to remember and muse
Hope for todays and tomorrows to come
Of time and change … ‘midst winter’s chill
Charlotte-Anne Allen
Maker, Creator
Lord God Almighty
Powerful, Omnipotent
Redeemer most Sovereign
Savior and friend
Merciful forgiver
Loving Father of life
Adonai, our great ruler
When in doubt, you offer faith
When afraid, you bring comfort
All-knowing omniscient
Seeing me true
Bringer of hope
Joy even in sorrow
Lifting us up
For every tomorrow
Charlotte-Anne Allen 12/27/2025
Breaking news has come to light
Bright star shining in the night
Bringing words of great import
… As foretold in prior report
Delivered by angelic messengers this day
Telling shepherds where this King child lay
Scholars take notice, a trip to prepare
Come all you seekers to welcome him there
Join him in the manger stall
This Christ child come, for us all
Breaking news! Listen and be glad!
Love so vast through a little lad
Charlotte-Anne Allen
The Still Small Voice 