Obstacles and Risks in My Life

Despite being a successful poet now, my life was filled with obstacles and risks. For starters, I wrote my poetry in the 1800's, when women weren't given many rights. Obviously, I received some criticism whenever I tried to do something that women "couldn't" do.

Another obstacle that affected my life is when I had tuberculosis in my lungs. This was a disease that was killing hundreds of people at the time, and some of my neighbors had died from it. I was coughing a lot and felt so sick. Vinnie had it too, but luckily we both survived.

Last of all, I was almost always interrupted from my writing to do chores. I had countless chores around the house, and they were not fun. But since my mother taught me her wonderful housework skills, I was able to get through it and still have time to write.