I lived from 1866-1951. I was from the United States, and am in the Americas category.
Gelett Burgess, famous for his "Purple Cow" poem, is also the creator of those vulgar and unmannered Goops. (written in 1900)
Born in Boston, Frank Gelett Burgess (1866-1951) was a drafting professor at the University of California at Berkeley and an editor for The Lark, a tiny San Francisco literary magazine. It was during his time at The Lark (1895-1897) that he wrote and published "The Purple Cow."
Burgess went on to write several books of humor including Goops and How to Be Them, Are You A Bromide? and An Alphabet of Famous Goops, "Which you'll Regard with Yells and Whoops. Futile Acumen! For you Yourselves are Doubtless Dupes Of Failings Such as Mar these Groups -- We all are Human!" He's also credited with contributing several words to the English language, including "blurb."
But it was The Purple Cow" which was Burgess' legacy and what he considered his biggest mistake. He despised the inevitable recitation which would follow when people found out he was the author.
In frustration, he finally composed a sequel.
Confession: and a Portrait, Too,
Upon Ah, Yes! I Wrote the "Purple Cow"--
I'm Sorry, now, I Wrote it!
But I can Tell you Anyhow,
I'll Kill you if you Quote it!"
I'd never quote a purple cow.
She's out to pasture, anyhow.
Born in Boston, Frank Gelett Burgess (1866-1951) was a drafting professor at the University of California at Berkeley and an editor for The Lark, a tiny San Francisco literary magazine. It was during his time at The Lark (1895-1897) that he wrote and published "The Purple Cow."
Burgess went on to write several books of humor including Goops and How to Be Them, Are You A Bromide? and An Alphabet of Famous Goops, "Which you'll Regard with Yells and Whoops. Futile Acumen! For you Yourselves are Doubtless Dupes Of Failings Such as Mar these Groups -- We all are Human!" He's also credited with contributing several words to the English language, including "blurb."
But it was The Purple Cow" which was Burgess' legacy and what he considered his biggest mistake. He despised the inevitable recitation which would follow when people found out he was the author.
In frustration, he finally composed a sequel.
Confession: and a Portrait, Too,
Upon Ah, Yes! I Wrote the "Purple Cow"--
I'm Sorry, now, I Wrote it!
But I can Tell you Anyhow,
I'll Kill you if you Quote it!"
I'd never quote a purple cow.
She's out to pasture, anyhow.
Popular poetry
- Ah, Yes! I Wrote the "Purple Cow" --
I'm Sorry, now, I Wrote it!4 lines, 3 comments - I'm Sure every Word that you say is Absurd;
I Say it's All Gummidge and Twaddle;3 lines - AN ALPHABET OF FAMOUS GOOPS.
Which you 'll Regard with Yells and Whoops.84 lines - I'd Rather have Fingers than Toes;
I'd Rather have Ears than a Nose;5 lines, 1 comment
