16 May 2004

Doggerel sequels

Everyone knows the question
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
For years I have known that this question does in fact have the traditional answer
Well a woodchuck would chuck what a woodchuck could chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood.
Recently I learned that there is a sequel to Gelett Burgess' immortal poem
I never saw a purple cow
I never hope to see one
But I can tell you anyhow
I'd rather see than be one.
It seems that Mr. Burgess lived to rue the fame of his little doggerel, and eventually wrote
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.

No comments: