Merrill Glass是一位普通的美國婦女，傢中的丈夫在女兒4歲時應徵入伍，趕赴越南前線，不幸在戰場陣亡。Merrill終身守寡，一直活到80歲都沒有再嫁。母親去世後，女兒在整理其遺物時發現瞭一動人的詩：
――《但是你沒有》。
But you didn't.
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.
記得那天，我借用你的新車，我撞凹瞭它
我以為你一定會殺瞭我的
但是你沒有
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.
記得那天，我拖你去海灘，而它真如你所說的下瞭雨
我以為你會說「我告訴過你」
但是你沒有
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.
記得那天，我和所有的男人調情好讓你嫉妒，而你真的嫉妒瞭
我以為你一定會離開我
但是你沒有
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie
all over your car rug?
I thought you'd hit me, but you didn't.
記得那天，我在你的新地毯上吐瞭滿地的草莓餅
我以為你一定會厭惡我的
但是你沒有
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.
記得那天，我忘瞭告訴你那個舞會是要穿禮服的，而你卻穿瞭牛仔褲
我以為你一定要拋棄我瞭
但是你沒有
Yes, there were lots of things you didn't do.
But you put up with me, and loved me, and protected me.
是的，有許多的事你都沒有做，而你容忍我鐘愛我保護我
There were lots of things I wanted to make up to you
when you returned from Vietnam.
有許多許多的事情我要回報你，等你從越南回來
But you didn't.
(責任編輯：Darry Ring)