《但是你沒有》的作者是一位普通的美國婦女，她的丈夫在女兒4歲時應征入伍去了越南戰場，從此她便和女兒相依為命。後來，她的丈夫、孩子的爸爸不幸陣亡。她終身守寡，直至年老病逝。她的女兒在整理遺物時發現了母親當年寫給父親的這首詩，題目就是
《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
