IanG

If this is autobiographical, remember we are all a mix of strengths and weaknesses, faults and virtues. If things are hard now they may not always be. Other people may have issues they won't admit to. If their lives are perfect now they may have issues in the future. If you've made mistakes there's time to learn from them.

I'm not an expert on the technical aspects of poetry, but I agree with your sentiments here.

Thete are people like Frank who will twist anything so its in their favour.

If this is based on fact, remembet there are bettet people around than the one who left you. It may seem unlikely now but its true.

'A reputation with the locals' not 'in the locals.' That or 'a reputation in the area.'

You evoke the setting and the characters past experiences well. I like the way they think they've debunked the myth only to realise they havn't.

I'm not great when it comes to the technicalities of poetry but I relate to the sentiments expressed here. There's emotional truth in it.

I'd have written 'a huge smile that showed his front teeth were missing,' it feels more fluent.

The opening lines are good, they create tension and raise questions of who this man is and how he comes to be brawling. His relationship with his brother is plausible and you convey it well.

There's a lot of truth in this.