Beverly Hillbillies

When Mr. Drysdale
Stole all of Jed Clampett’s money
And ran off to Peru with
Miss Hathaway, some said
He was a weak man.
After all, he had the means
To get to South America
Plenty of dollars to spend
Once he arrived.

And yet, happiness eluded him.
His wife pursued him
Like a pack of slavering daemons
He could feel her lawyer’s blast
Of hot air on his neck
No matter how well
He covered his tracks
His days and nights became
Floor-walking cowardly ones.

He stood looking out
At the fields of growing crops
Wondering what he might
Find one thing real
Something that matters
In what he has now
And what he left behind.
I was young once,
He laments,
Strong and capable
Before time and status
Wore him thin.

Sometimes, he thinks
Of Jed and Granny
Jethro and Ellie Mae
But not often
And when he does
He wonders
Who really is the victim
When the story
Finally ends?

-Zoe Richardson