A lot of poetry (including my own) tends to have a particularly formal voice. The first line immediately drew me in. I got a sense of the persona immediately. Congratulations on establishing that. If I can offer any (limited) advice, the voice seemed to waver slightly in the sound of rain on tree branches section. It seemed a little to formal (and I may be wrong I'm barely a writer myself) in comparison to the other stanzas. Also, to me at least, at the second last sentence, the additional "at my life" seems unnecessary. I feel it would be extremely powerful without it. That being said this poem gave me shivers. I loved it. I felt like I was getting an insight into your personas struggles. It was beautiful. Keep writing you are a great poet.

Nick.

and in depth as Nick Noted in the above!
your poems give me a good intake of breath
cause this is me...your protaganist
in many guises..
true story...not one Im proud of either
last year Im changing...due to my little woman
putting her foot down too see through the
love...the bad was the cream gone sour
on the top...the milk of kindness was going
fast too beneath..
i was either going to sink or swim
and it was close the few times
on my own...
but God must have purpose for me
I would have dusted myself off
long ago...but Im not god
He is..

I have had coffee cups thrown
at me..hit with a fry pan
a butcher knife held over
me waking up one day
kicked in the back
punched in the face
and I deserved it
it might seem violent
and rash...but I pushed
and pushed

why....I dont even know
why...

these are great women
at the time we both
had issues...they shoved
me...
a lot asked me how
I live with them
or lived at the time
it was not just
one sided in my case...

but thats behind me
im decent friends too
them all..
the pack idealism
I like

your poems amaze
me at the clarity
of how the subject
is struck while the
iron is hot

great poetry Barbara

Mr Wolf!