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The Purple Cow!Gelett Burgess

The Purple Cow!

by OpenStories

Original author: Gelett Burgess

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"The Purple Cow!" by Gelett Burgess is a short nonsense poem first published in 1895. Originally appearing in Burgess's magazine The Lark with a longer title, this whimsical four-line verse became extraordinarily popular, quoted widely throughout twentieth-century America. The poem's success eventually led Burgess to resent its fame, prompting him to write a response poem expressing his frustration. Its cultural influence spans from presidential humor to ice cream brands and college mascots.

The Purple Cow!, by Gelett Burgess. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #30656.

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