THE SINGING GARDEN

The Indian Myna

Gimme the town an’ its clamour an’  clutter;
      I ain’t very fond of the bush;
  For my cobbers are coves of the gardens and gutter—
      A tough metropolitan push.
  I ain’t never too keen on the countryfied life;
  It’s the hustle an’ bustle for me an’ me wife.

So I  swagger an’ strut an’ I cuss an’ I swagger;
      I’m wise to the city’s hard way.
  A bit of a bloke an’ a bit of a bragger;
      I’ve always got plenty to say.
  Learned thro’ knockin’ about since my people came out
  From the land at the back of Bombay.

When out  in the bush I am never a ranger;
      There never ain’t nothin’ to see.
  Besides, them bush birds got no time for a stranger;
      So town an’ the traffic for me.
  I sleep in the gardens an’ loaf in the street,
  An’ sling off all day at the fellers I meet.

An’ I swagger an’ scold an’ strut an’ I swagger,
      An’ pick up me fun where I can,
  Or tell off me wife, who’s a bit of a nagger,
      Or scrap with the sparrers for scran.
  A bonzer at bluffin’, I give you my word,
  For, between you an’ me, I’m a pretty tough bird.