Book I. The Odes of Chou and the South: VIII. Fou I

VIII The Fou I; narrative. The song of the plantain gatherers. 1We gather and gather the plantains; Come gather them anyhow. Yes, gather and gather the plantains, And here we have got them now. 2We gather and gather the plantains; Now off the ears we must tear. Yes, gather and gather the plantains, And now the seeds are laid bare. 3We gather and gather the plantains, The seeds in our skirts are placed. Yes, gather and gather the plantains, Ho! safe in the girdled waist.