Living

The Fow E

by Shi Jing (The Book of Songs) poems c. 1000–600 BC; compilation traditionally ascribed to Confucius

Translated by James Legge (1876) · From The She King (1876), Part I, Book I

Living

We gather and gather the plantains ;
Come gather them anyhow.
Yes, gather and gather the plantains,
And here we have got them now.

We gather and gather the plantains ; é
Now off the ears we must tear.
Yes, gather and gather the plantains,
And now the seeds are laid bare.

We gather and gather the plantains,
The seeds in our skirts are placed.
Yes, gather and gather the plantains.
Ho! safe in the girdled waist !

✦ ✦ ✦

The song of the plantain-gatherers.

MLA

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Fow E.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/7/.

Chicago

Shi Jing (The Book of Songs). “The Fow E.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shi-jing/7/.

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