Nebuchadnezzar

You , Nebuchadnezzah, whoa, sah!
Whar is you tryin' to go, sah?
I'd hab you fur to know, sah,
— I's a-holdin' ob de lines.
You better stop dat prancin',
You's paw'ful fond ob dancin',
But I'll bet my yeah's advancin'
— Dat I'll cure you ob yo' shines.

Look heah, mule! Better min' out;
Fus' t'ing you know you'll fin' out
How quick I'll w'ar dis line out
— On yo' ugly stubbo'n back;
You needn't try to steal up
An' lif' dat precious heel up;
You's got to plough dis fiel' up,
— You has, sah, fur a fac'.

Dar, dat's de way to do it!
He's comin' right down to it;
Jes' watch him ploughin' troo it!
— Dis nigger ain't no fool.
Some folks dey would 'a' beat him:
Now, dat would only heat him;
I know jes' how to treat him:
— You mus' reason wid a mule.

He minds me like a nigger.
If he wuz only bigger
He'd fotch a mighty figger,
— He would, I tell you! Yes, sah!
See how he keeps a-clickin'!
He's as gentle as a chicken,
And nebber thinks o' kickin' —
— Whoa, dar! Nebuchadnezzah!
...

Is dis heah me, or not me?
Or is de debbil got me?
Wuz dat a cannon shot me?
— Hab I laid heah more'n a week?
Dat mule do kick amazin' —
De beast was sp'iled in raisin'!
By now I 'spect he's grazin'
— On de odder side de creek.