Remember the day I borrowed your brand new car and dented it? I thought youd kill me, but you didnt.
And remember the time I dragged you to the beach, and you said it would rain, and it did? I thought youd say, “I told you so.” But you didnt.
Do you remember the time I flirted with all the guys to make you jealous, and you were? I thought youd leave, but you didnt.
Do you remember the time I spilled strawberry pie all over your car rug?
I thought youd hit me, but you didnt.
And remember the time I forgot to tell you the dance was formal and you showed up in jeans? I thought youd drop me, but you didnt.
Yes, there were lots of things you didnt 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 didnt.
記得那一天我借了你的新車(chē),結(jié)果把它撞凹了。我以為你會(huì)殺了我,但你沒(méi)有。
記得那一次我拖你去海灘,你說(shuō)天會(huì)下雨,果然下了。我以為你會(huì)說(shuō),“我早就跟你說(shuō)了?!钡銢](méi)有。
記得那一次我挑逗所有那些男子,引你嫉妒,你真的嫉妒了。我以為你會(huì)離開(kāi),但你沒(méi)有。
記得那一次我在車(chē)子的地毯上吐了一地的草莓餅。我以為你會(huì)打我,但你沒(méi)有。
記得那一次我忘記告訴你那是個(gè)正式的舞會(huì),而你穿了牛仔褲到場(chǎng)。我以為你會(huì)離我而去,但你沒(méi)有。
是的,你有許多許多的事沒(méi)有做。但你容忍我、鐘愛(ài)我、保護(hù)我。
我想做許多許多的事來(lái)回報(bào)你等你從越南回來(lái)。
但你沒(méi)有。
這首樸實(shí)而感人至深的詩(shī)出自一位普通的美國(guó)婦女之手。女兒的父親在女兒四歲時(shí)應(yīng)征入伍去了越南,不幸陣亡。母親后來(lái)一直沒(méi)有再嫁,活到了80歲。母親去世后,女兒在整理母親的東西時(shí),發(fā)現(xiàn)了這首母親親手寫(xiě)的詩(shī)。
至親至愛(ài)之人離世后,難免會(huì)常常想起過(guò)去的點(diǎn)點(diǎn)滴滴。詩(shī)的前五段都在描述作者與丈夫之間相處的片段。從這些片段中,我們可以看到丈夫?qū)ζ拮拥膶捜莺蛺?ài)護(hù),一句簡(jiǎn)單的“but you didnt”就讓丈夫充滿(mǎn)愛(ài)的形象躍然紙上。這些生活片段雖然很平常,但足以讓人感受到其中的溫馨和愛(ài)意。讀到這里,你會(huì)以為這是一首溫暖的小情詩(shī),然而,作者突然筆鋒一轉(zhuǎn)?!澳銥槲腋冻隽巳绱硕啵蚁M饶慊丶液蠛煤没貓?bào)你,但是你沒(méi)有回來(lái)?!痹?shī)中最后一句“but you didnt”與之前的語(yǔ)氣截然不同,把詩(shī)的意境一下子由喜轉(zhuǎn)換到悲。讀者感受到的震撼來(lái)自于巨大的對(duì)比,前部分的甜蜜溫馨到最后都成了痛苦的鋪墊。最后一句來(lái)得如此突然,如此簡(jiǎn)短,讓人始料不及。這種感覺(jué)就像突然聽(tīng)到至親離世的消息……