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、孩子的爸爸不幸阵亡。她终身守寡，直至年老病逝。她女儿在整理遗物时发现了母亲当年写给父亲的这首诗：
Remember the day I borrowed your brand
new car and dented it?
I thought you'd kill me,
but you didn't.
记得那天，我借用你的新车，我撞凹了它
我以为你一定会杀了我的
但是你没有
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie
all over your car rug?
I thought you'd hit me
but you didn't.
记得那天，我在你的新地毯上吐了满地的草莓饼
我以为你一定会厌恶我的
但是你没有
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.
记得那天，我拖你去海滩，而它真如你所说的下了雨
我以为你会说“我告诉过你”
但是你没有
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.
记得那天，我对所有男人卖弄风情好让你嫉妒
而你真的嫉妒了
我以为你一定会离开我
但是你没有
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.
记得那天，我忘了告诉你那个舞会是要穿礼服的，而你却穿了牛仔裤
我以为你一定要抛弃我了
但是你没有
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.
是的，有许多的事你都没有做，
而你容忍我钟爱我保护我
有许多许多的事情我要回报你，
等你从越南回来
But you didn't.
但是你没有
