作者是一位普通的美國(guó)婦女，她的丈夫應(yīng)征去了越南戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)，后來陣亡了。她終身守寡，直至年老病逝。她的女兒在整理遺物時(shí)發(fā)現(xiàn)了母親當(dāng)年寫給父親的這首詩：

記得那天，我借用你的新車，我撞凹了它
我以為你一定會(huì)殺了我的
但是你沒有

記得那天，我在你的新地毯上吐了滿地的草莓餅
我以為你一定會(huì)厭惡我的
但是你沒有

記得那天，我拖你去海灘，而它真如你所說的下了雨
我以為你會(huì)說“我告訴過你”
但是你沒有

記得那天，我和所有的男人調(diào)情好讓你嫉妒，而你真的嫉妒了
我以為你一定會(huì)離開我
但是你沒有

記得那天，我忘了告訴你那個(gè)舞會(huì)是要穿禮服的，而你卻穿了牛仔褲
我以為你一定要拋棄我了
但是你沒有

是的，有許多的事你都沒有做，而你容忍我鐘愛我保護(hù)我
有許多許多的事情我要回報(bào)你，等你從越南回來
但是你沒有

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.