Älä sano,                                                                                                                                          että ymmärrät,                                                                                                                 ammattiauttaja.

Sinä sanot katsovasi päivittäin kärsimystä silmästä silmään.                                                                                                                            Mutta tiedätkö,                                                                                                                                  mitä on kantaa                                                                                                                           helvettiä sielussaan                                                                                                                               ja ruumiissaan?                                                                                                                          Tiedätkö                                                                                                                                          mitä on olla                                                                                                                                   työtön ja asunnoton,                                                                                                                alkoholisti                                                                                                                                           tai hoidossa mielisairaalassa?

Älä väitä ymmärtäväsi.                                                                                                                 Riittää, kun kuuntelet,                                                                                                                        olet lähellä - läsnä.

Harvat osaavat sitäkään.

                           Maaria Leinonen