这首诗的出处：一个普通的美国家庭，母女相依为命，女儿的父亲在女儿4岁时应征入伍去了越南，不幸阵亡。母亲一直活到了80岁都没有再嫁。母亲去世后，女儿在整理母亲的东西时，发现了一首母亲亲手写的诗，题目就叫《可是你没有》:
记得那一次我借了你的新车
而我却撞凹了它
我以为你会杀了我
可是你没有
记得那一次
我拖你去海滩 你说天会下雨 结果真的下了
我以为你会说 我告诉过你啦
可是你没有
记得那一次
我在你新刷的地毯上吐了满地的草莓饼
我以为你会厌恶我
可是你没有
记得那一次
我向所有的男子挑逗
来引你嫉妒
可是你没有
记得那一次
我忘记告诉你
那个舞会是穿礼服的 而你只穿牛仔裤到场
我以为你必然放弃我了
可是你没有
是的 有许多许多的事你全都没有做
而你容忍我、钟爱我、保护我
有许多许多的事 我要回报你
等你从越南回来
可是你没有
BUT YOU DIDN’T
Remember the day I borrowed your brand
new 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.