To all the healthcare providers and students of the art
      Listen to an old man who's been around
I've been there when mores fell apart
     And cared for the wounded when wars were fought
I've doctored the hurt and the ill in crowded towns
     And in jungles and mountain tops
I've delivered babies in a hut by candlelight
     And cared for them after, be they dark or white
I've watched people weather the pain of withdrawal
     Others die of hunger, poverty and denial
I've closed wounds with prayer and thread
      Even leeches and maggots to stop the spread
I learned, gained experience and taught
      All through my lifetime, I've said and shout
That we should practice our trade from the heart!
      And that's what this book is all about.