Data Flow Forever
by Ray Phoenix
(after completing the Dataflow Course, summer 1979)

We all went off to Boston,
Where our illusions all we lost 'em,
And we didn't drink much Postum,
  But we had a lot of fun.
And we studied with Jack Dennis,
And with Arvind we apprenticed',
And now we are a menace,
  For our course work is all done.

So, let's get up an' at 'em
We'll flow just like a datum
And when these days are over
Well be glad we had 'em
  Sing dataflow, token, selector, appender and all.

With procedures and recursion,
And iteration in two versions,
And other such diversions,
  Who could get bored with such a din.
And we loved the data packet,
And no system ought to lack it,
For when you get the knack it's
  the only way to pack it in.

So, let's get up an' at 'em
We'll flow just like a datum
And when these days are over
Well be glad we had 'em
  Sing dataflow, token, selector, appender and all.

And now our course is ended,
And our courses home we've wended,
And our money all we've spended
  but we have a lot of books.
And education didn't harm us,
For there's nought there to alarm us,
And our wives perhaps to charm us,
  Say it didn't spoil our looks.

So, let's get up an' at 'em
We'll flow just like a datum
And when these days are over
Well be glad we had 'em
  Sing dataflow, token, selector, appender and all.