This poem came out of the November 5, 2019 Poetry Fishbowl. It was inspired by a prompt from technoshaman . It also fills the "Reputation" square in my 10-31-19 card for the People-watching Bingo fest, and the "Silence" square in my 11-1-19 card for the transbingo fest. This poem belongs to the Clay of Life series. "More Desirable Than Great Riches" Menachem and Yossele lived on the road, staying a few days here, traveling on there, to follow the work. In most places, their reputation protected them from trouble, for blacksmiths were useful everywhere. They took great care to be honest and reliable in all that they did, even when they couldn't always afford it. "A good name is more desirable than great riches, a good reputation than silver and gold," Menachem said as he poured more water in the soup to make up for a lack of matzo. Yossele nodded silently. It was easy for him to go into the house of a widow and fetch her big cauldron for mending, since he was neither one thing nor the other and nobody would think anything untoward of it. Meanwhile Menachem was the one who did most of the bargaining, because few other people knew the gestures that Yossele used to communicate. Then one day they were taken up by bandits. "Nu, don't you know that it's bad luck to bother blacksmiths?" said Menachem. "Your pot will surely spring a leak, or your horse will throw a shoe!" But the bandits did not listen. It was looking very bad for the two of them as they were dragged into camp. Then Yossele met the daughter of the bandit-lord, who could neither hear nor speak. He sat on the ground and whittled a dreidel from a stick, then showed her how to play using the toy and a few signs. The bandits, who had been debating whether to rob and kill them, or rob and sell them, suddenly stopped when she gave an odd croaking laugh. Then everyone swarmed around Yossele, demanding to know what he had done. Yossele waved his hands, and Menachem translated, while the little girl watched them in fascination. So it was decided that they would neither be robbed, killed, nor sold but would instead stay for a month to teach Aviva how to use the signs. By the time they left, she could carry on simple conversations, and her father loaded their wagon with all the food it would hold. He had offered them gold, too, but Menachem had firmly drawn the line at accepting stolen goods. Despite that they were scolded at the next town. "What were you thinking, to stay in the woods with bandits?" an old woman said. Yossele moved his hands in reply, and Menachem said, "We were thinking that Aviva needed someone to teach her." It was all very well and good to worry about your reputation, but in the end it was not as important as taking care of G-d's children. * * * Notes: "A good name is more desirable than great riches, a good reputation than silver and gold. " -- Proverbs (Mishle) 22:1 Jewish soups include matzo ball soup, usually made with chicken , although it can be vegetarian .