诗歌背景:《但是你没有》的作者是一位普通的美国妇女,她的丈夫在女儿4岁时应征入伍去了越南战场,从此她便和女儿相依为命。后来,她的丈夫、孩子的爸爸在越南战争中不幸阵亡。她终身守寡,直至年老病逝。她的女儿在整理遗物时发现了母亲当年写给父亲的这首诗,题目就是《但是你没有》
Remember the day I borrowed your brandnew car and dented it?
I thought you'd kill me,
but you didn't.
And remember the time I dragged you to the beach,
and you said it would rain,
and it did?I thought you'd say,
"I told you so."
But you didn't.
Do you remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you jealous,
and you were?
I thought you'd leave,
but you didn't.
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car rug?
I thought you'd hit me,
but you didn't.
And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and you showed up in jeans?
I thought you'd drop me,
but you didn't.
Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do.But you put up with me,
and loved me,
and protected me.
There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you when you returned from Vietnam.
But you didn't.