I’ve lived a long time
on Waterloo Green
watching each bird
and hearing its call
fly away Peter fly away Paul
I’ve known a rainbow
in the flesh and smelt
feathers black as pitch
as ravens brawl
come again Peter come again Paul
I’ve had golden looks
from currawongs
and ibis get-alongs
as they trawl
fly away Peter come again Paul
magpies sunbake
with their friends and pigeons
palter with their hens who
hardly notice them at all
fly away Peter come again Paul
come again Peter fly away Paul
this is a rhyme to let you know
you can return when you go
