New homes Carlisle - Purple Philosophy

Poetry can help us see the truth in business

“There’s a poet in us all”

The business world is getting tired of constant spin, corruption and half-truths. Modern business is about authenticity and building communities. With this new spirit emerging, there’s a new breed of CEO poets sharing their thoughts and publishing their work.

Chris has written all his life. In recent years he has quietly established a reputation as a poet, and is publishing his first official collection of children’s poems next year; a collection of his general poems will follow shortly after.

Here’s a few poems from his collection.

A Spoon of Honey

Enriched and golden: sunlight stored then refined
And oh so sweetly true: the tail of toil and time;
A collective’s inspiring journey to my eyes and to my taste
Caught-up in busy flitting from place to place

So swiftly gathered, came the hedgerows and the meadow
Then tireless in the darkness: so with whispers did come the honey’s glow
And now what pure delight sits glistening, amid winter’s gelid gloom,
With summer’s amber memories settling on my spoon.

The Grey Seal Girl

Shall we sit by the sea my love and watch the tide come in
And feel the breeze that follows her course along that sandy rim
Then cuddling close within the dunes a tale or two might tell
Of smugglers’ landings long ago as soon as darkness fell.

Oh let us sit by the sea my love as shore birds weave the surf,
Their needled beaks that try in vain to stitch her to the earth;
Back and forth they dart and dash in feathered feasting hordes
Like pirates seeking sandy treasures with busy thrusting swords.

Shall we sit by the sea my love with the herring gulls haunting cries,
Telling us of a shipwrecked life beyond grey and sullen skies;
Or watch those easy airing wings play every change and gust
And know such grace was long since honed when we and he but dust

Oh let us sit by the sea my love as the dancing dune grass whispers
And there cosy spy the grey seal girl bathing with her sisters.
Then by chance might see her change as moonlit rock pools gleam
And casts her skin to dance awhile enchanting sailors’ dreams.

Shall we sit by the sea my love and watch the white sails flash
As schooners creep across our gaze, their stormed bows silent crash.
And wonder where they’re bound beyond horizons misty pull
Near white sand in warm winds on broad reach ‘neath bright full moon.

Oh let us sit by the sea my love with wild abandon eyes
And see fresh face on a cold old dog as you kiss his salty smiles.
As a whistling breeze blows a tune to sets chilled skin alight
And the seas call is such a wild call yet you need not fear her bite.

Shall we sit by the sea my love till dusk draws down her veil,
See a myriad shining stars that dance to the oystercatchers hails.
And that long walk home on a shoulder’s rest with a gentle voice to lead
To crackling fire in old crofts hearth and a sense of spirits freed.

The Ancient Forest

In the ancient forest of long ago where only fools would venture
And awful screams were often heard when any dared to enter;

For creatures lurked the forest’s edge to snatch as travellers passed
And ugly beasts round fire danced their flickering shadows cast;

Where Goblin Ghoul Witch and Warlock often they would stay
To lick the bones of many a soul who to the forest strayed;

With every dusk, as darkness fell the forest would rejoice
For Wolves could leave its evil shade to hush some startled voice;

In every village far and wide the windows would be barred
Then to their beds the children rushed and prayed the beasts would starve;

And as they slept shadows passed by many-a-cottage door
And now and then a howl was heard a sniff or scratching paw;

They through the mist on morning dew tracks were sometimes found
Were life was lost with scarce a scream and to the forest bound;

Now you may think that forest felled and all of this has passed
But little friends the forest stands and still its shadows cast;

So to your beds be sure to go with every fall of night
And stay tucked safe within your beds until the break of light;

And if you ever pass that place, be sure and watch it well
For some still say that cries are heard when ever a tree is felled.

Piggy-Wig

Run little piggy-wig, run if you can
Run so fast from the butcher man.

Jump little piggy-wig, jump if you can
He’s after your Peggy – legs to make salty ham.

Creep little piggy-wig, tiptoe away
Or to the cook’s kitchen your trotter's will stray.

Hide little piggy-wig, oh – hide if you can
He’s after your bacon to fry in his pan.

Hush little piggy-wig, hush and be still
Or with your fine sausage his tummy-tum fill.

Scream little piggy – wig scream if you can
Let them all know that you’re caught in his van

Push little piggy-wig, squeeze your way out
saved by that curious piggy-wig snout.

Free little piggy-wig so run your self home
Back to the woods where the piggy-wigs roam.

Happy little piggy-wigs you’re all safe and sound
With piggy-wig mummy you finally found.

Golden Mile

I walked with her that golden mile
My voice anxious for a word.

But I did not speak; I made no sound
Just kept my gaze fixed to the ground.

She walks with someone that is not here
I’m not the one she holds so dear.

Mum

I think often of my mother's hand on my head.
Her tirless hands that gave expression to her being's endless love.
I miss her.
And often think back to those fleeting moments, when one recognises a precious life;
That a good spirit is in your midst!
And as for that, so often such greatness and goodness goes unseen-
or worse, unreturned!
She left suddenly.
My words came too slowly as she said farewell:
With a smile and her sure hand's fading grip that failed me only once: slowly in mine!
Now I have her only in my Heart!
She burns bright in me, lighting mine like never before:
I fear less through knowing her!
I'm am of her stock, still warmed with her certain love.
In me she lives!

Trudge East

Bright Star to the East!
Turning, I see her point of light,
Are we both wonderers?
Stare at her beauty,
Cold, as old as time -
shivers down my spine as I consider that;
You may already have died my dear!

Deluded by her imagined attentions,
Yet a mear fragment of dust on her lens.
I gaze at her as she burns time;
Brilliance pouring into my midst.
Human-nothing in the scheme.
Fitting feeling on such a night as this!
Coat collar pulled up I trudge east with her.