Blessed is the man who pays his debts,
known and unknown,
whose thoughts remain on
keeping a clean slate
and correct books
and remaining daily
in good standing
and not inviting
time in the prison.

He lives for more
than for what he hungers
and submits his wants
to his needs,
and submits his needs
to his responsibilities,
and submits his responsibilities
to his relationships,
which he relishes as pure gold.

He is not driven
by the debtor’s shame
or by fears of
the collections man-
he does not build his house
on that borrowed from others,
that which is not at all his,
that which can be
revoked from him
at any time.

He does not stain his
reputation
because of loans unpaid,
because of materialism
over friendship,
because of the need
to appear prosperous,
instead of actually being so.

He will be respected and
greeted in the square.
He will not be shamed
for taking without giving,
and being a hungry man
who will not make,
who will not share,
who will not give.

He does not erect
his own prison,
but rather refreshes
his neighbors.