English poem
Harvest Song
by John Bowring (1792–1872)
Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see Who the kissers and kiss’d of the reapers shall be. Take hold of your reeds, till the secret be told, If the old shall kiss young, and the young shall kiss old. Take hold of your reeds, youths and maidens! and see What fortune and chance to the drawers decree: And if any refuse, may God smite them—may they Be cursed by Paraskev, the saint of to-day! Now loosen your hands—now loosen, and see Who the kissers and kiss’d of the reapers shall be.