The Piping Shrike

The Piping Shrike is our emblem
On our South Australian flag
It is our local bird: the magpie
A major part of country life!

We went halves in a boat
Once upon a time
It was old and rusty
Needed lots of love and work done
It was called the Piping Shrike!
I remember bringing it home
From the River Murray's mouth
From Goolwa we travelled
It took most of a day and night
We stopped over at Wellington
It was so beautifully calm
But before we got up the river
We had an awful time
Crossing Lake Alexandrina
On a windy afternoon
Going on until night fall
Searching for the river's mouth
Made us all feel really sick
Almost made us chunder mate!
You know the terminology?
The technicolour yawn
Well I'll tell you
It was really close
And I never chuck up mate!
Thank God we finally made it!
Thank God we hit the calm
Because I couldn't take much more!
I was at the end of my game!
I must declare: I'd rather be
A landlubber: That's for sure!
Any time I swear!
I'll take the land over water
Without another care!