The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #22645   Message #3833051
Posted By: Joe_F
16-Jan-17 - 08:50 PM
Thread Name: Origins: Wheat in the ear - Weevily Wheat?
Subject: RE: Origins: Wheat in the ear - Weevily Wheat?
It is odd that all the versions have the refrain alluding to the seaman's wife's pregnancy, but only Kipling's stanza develops the metaphor. My guess is that, indeed, "Now Aprile is over..." is all we have left of the original "Wheat in the Ear", besides the refrain, which was subsequently stolen by "Weevily Wheat". I would sure like to have the rest.