This site is dedicated to Nellie Perry Mother and Grandmother.
Throughout the years, the classical, whimsical poem “I
Never Saw A Purple Cow” has delighted and inspired
readers.
never saw a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.
But I can tell you anyhow
I’d rather see than be one
Famously, Burgess became somewhat exasperated with the success of his poem, of which he was constantly reminded. A few years later, he penned a riposte that became almost as well-known as the original. It was titled “Confession: and a Portrait Too, Upon a Background that I Rue” and appeared in The Lark, number 24 (April 1, 1897):
The 1895 issue ofThe Lark in which Burgess’s “Purple Cow” first appeared
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!