Reviews from

The Ballad of Fanny and Stella

The two men who lived as ladies that rocked London Society

40 total reviews 
Comment from MelB
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I'm not sure about transvestites, but homosexuality has been around since nearly the beginning of time, as found in the Old Testament. These two were quite the pair. I found your notes interesting as well. I can just imagine "Lie back and think of England" being said. Good grief!

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    Homosexuality has always existed, this is true. What the two did was a sensation then as it is now, it fascinated me but I actually felt sorry for them as they did not have the best of lives, despite being born middle class.Thankyou so much for your kind review.meia x
Comment from DonandVicki
Excellent
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I really enjoyed your poem/story about the two lady/ fellas. I like the tongue in cheek, satirical way you constructed this historical poem, very well done, I would like to read more of your work.

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    Thankyou so much, hopefully you will get a chance to, and not be put off by some of my longer poems.Kindest regards, Meia x
Comment from Kingsland
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Right off the bat, let me tell you this. You are a very talented writer. Writing short poems for most poets is not a struggle, but for some a poem as long as this one is. It ties most writers up and takes them out of their comfort zone. As far as I'm concerned, you're a brilliant writer that needs to be told how good you are. The greats wrote poetry of this length And even though they have long past. We all know who they are. You keep on writing like this and it will take you places. Just an outstanding verse that never loses, but rather gains and gets stronger the further you read into it. You go girl, because you have what it takes to be great... John

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    My goodness you have actually made my day! I have shortened the poem because I know people on here don't like long poems, but I just write until I feel the story has reached it's natural end.You have moved me so much with your words.It's such a great boost because there is some great work out there and it's hard to get noticed. Thank-you SO much for your kindness.I will remember it when reviews keep telling me to shorten my poems. I actually have some much longer ones. Meia x
Comment from EricBrady
Excellent
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Excellent story that you have told. Your words held me entranced until the end. Excellent ryhming and the history lesson in your notes was very informative. Thank you sharing this ravishing tale.

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    Thankyou so much for your kind and positive review.I am so glad that you enjoyed the story. It has always fascinated me.kind regards meia :)
Comment from Thomas Bowling
Excellent
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A very informative post. Their crime was that they were born a hundred years too soon. Today they would have their own reality show. Keeping up with Stella and Fanny.

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    I love that idea!They would have been sensational.They acted on the stage, they were flirts, they were tarts but they were also incredible people. Thankyou again.
Comment from Bill O'Bier
Excellent
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I am a huge fan of the transgender community. Obviously, there is much similarity among the challenges of transgender people and all women - from health care to harassment to discrimination in the workplace. Thanks for writing this poem.
Bill~

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    Thanks so much for your thoughtful review Bill.I have transgender friends and I know not everyone will want to read this but I have to try to educate some people and doing it in a (I hope) amusing manner is the best way I know, thankyou again so much meia x
Comment from William Ross
Excellent
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very good story in a poem with great rhyming and a good meter. Flows and reads great. back in the day gays men had it hard, wasn't excepted about anywhere. for women was a different story at best. Thanks for the share and have a wonderful day

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    Thankyou so much for you fantastic review.I am very pleased you enjoyed it.x
Comment from Nika2016
Excellent
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Well..they weren't very pretty...and this little ditty shows how foolish their suitors could be...
Men wanting men..but denying it then...a ruse, but it's time for tea...


 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    In fairness, that picture is awful.Stella was really very pretty, both as a boy and as a woman. But of course her 'customers' knew she was not a woman...although with a lot of drink, with Stella, it might have been hard to tell. Poor Fanny was not very pretty and rather beetle browed. The same goes on with modern Ladyboys in Thailand, some men want to experience both the male and feminine in one, but don't want to admit it.Thanks so much for your kind review meia x
Comment from Sis Cat
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Another fun, informative poem about the sexual mores of marginalized British during the Victorian Age. Your first poem was about boy prostitutes. You follow up with the crossdressing "sisters" Fanny and Stella.

I enjoyed your wickedly humorous and ribald passages such as

"But stripped down to nude
(And this is quite rude)
What hung down was not quite so pretty."

"Most men didn't care, what was in their underwear-
They just entered in through the backdoor!"

"claimed they'd been duped,
And had never once looked
At the appendage of Boulton or Park!"

Your poem created an orgiastic romp through Victorian London while also informing the readers about a different time and mores.

Because you know so much details about your subject, you have a tendency to include everything, resulting in your poem rambling. Here, less could be more if you shorten you poem and stop it at "And been viewed as sinister, depraved, and most shady." Knowing when to stop a poem is a key skill. Also, your author's notes are so long, that you could have posted it as a separate essay. I tend to keep my notes under one hundred words to focus attention on my poem.

You have a couple of points where you did not put a space behind a commas.

Otherwise, I found this to be a fun, informative poem. Thank you for sharing.

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    Thankyou so much for you very kind review.I have taken your points into consideration. Thankyou so much for your comments.meia x
Comment from Dorothy Farrell
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi Meia, an interesting story well told. You have really managed the rhyming so well in this story poem. That pair could do as they like today, but back then homosexuality was an offence that sent you to prison. No-one would bat an eyelid at cross-dressing today. How times have changed. Well done, regards and Happy New Year, Dorothy

 Comment Written 02-Jan-2017


reply by the author on 02-Jan-2017
    They would have looked fantastic with what is available today.Back then they had to work with what they had!But Stella was so beautiful as a woman, both were so dainty even dressed as men.For this reason when dressed as men they were often arrested for being women dressed as men!They could not win! thanks so much for your kind and insightful review.Happy new year.meia x