Give, do not lend; after death who will thank you? ~ E. M. Forster

Paying it forward is an ancient idea
but fresh and new. I learned long ago
lending money to someone careless…or broke…
when it came due left me resenting them…
but myself more…and now I ask people
to play it forward and make both of us feel better.
I know, too, how much more the same amount
is worth at some points in life than at others.
So I agree with Forster but phrase it differently.