Have you known misery?

[billy]

for me there needs to be an answer. something solid. at present it's too non specific. that makes it less interesting.
i think a few words could be lost without damaging the poem

thanks for the read

Have you known misery as many have before? [well] instead of [many have before]
Is darkness an old friend, kept buried in your past;
Was there a time in life that you let your heart soar
To find another dream, had smoldered into ash is [had] needed is the comma needed? end with a period.