I like it- a lot. Your descriptive frases (ole' drunk, split heels, yellow, sallow, 'never', 'eternal') You're probably already aware of their merit and appreciate it as only the writer can, but I really love some of it. I included never and eternal, not because they are esp. creative vocab., but because they have the everpresent power to strike fear into the human heart. What do we fear more than having the buzzer ring while still on the track; imcomplete, ?defeated?. Nevertheless, I'm really not sure what specific sorrow you wish to pass on to the reader, if any. Obviously lonliness, but of what kind, and of what depth? Did her husband merely die in war and leave her to turn mad with grief, or did he leave his fiance at the altar when she had estranged herself from her family for him, only to have him scorn her now useless and unrequitted love; leaving her destitute, bitter, and racked with sorrow and doubting that any such things as love, hope and goodness exist in the world? Obviously, I really like it, but try to take the emotion to another level, *if* that was the purpose of the poem. Very good, very melancholy, but a pleasure nontheless. What a long review...

I like the way you word things. It's very near archiac, but not overdone. I'm impressed. Anyone can do Shakespeare, not many can do this.

I honestly love the imagery. I can see what you're describing, and while that's easy enough in a book, it's not so easy in poetry. I can barely pull a cliche and childish poem, and here you are, showing me up.

Conratulations.