Articles written by Loretta Murphy-Birster - Page 2

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About me - Loretta Murphy-Birster

Loretta Murphy-Birster has been a writer since the age of 8 when she wrote a full length story about a black stallion named Lightening long hand on a yellow legal pad. After a 30 year nursing career (achieving both a bachelor's and a master's degree) and

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Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Lipstick: 2 of 19
LIPSTICK It began with Eve's pucker Her lips stained with berries Today we glide on Raisin, Corvette red And glossy Hawaiian Punch Cherry O, what is life without its glamour? Or survival without its glimmer? Make it work all day, make it last all night We are naught without its shimmer Revlon, Bonnie Bell, Allmay Jane, Cover... More..
Arts & Humanities > Dance Styles A guide to improvisational dance: 1 of 9
A Slight guide to improvisational dancability Improvisational dancability... Is it a condition? Is it an ability? Or, alternately, is it a disability? Can it be defined? Can it be taught? Is there a game show based on the concept? So many questions, Grasshopper. Yes, Master of the Dance...but can you answer them? Of course, ... More..
Health & Fitness > Allergies School districts should bar anyone from bringing peanut products to school: 7 of 59
School districts cannot, nor should they, bar anyone from bringing peanut products to school. A school is a replication of community - a small society within a larger one. Schools were developed to create good citizens who are able to learn to live and work within society for the good of the many. As a school nurse who works... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Astrology & Prophecy Different types of Tarot cards: 1 of 8
DIFFERENT TYPES OF TAROT CARDS Twenty years ago, when I began reading Tarot for myself, it was with a simple deck of playing cards. My best friend, Deb, and I started very innocently. It intrigued me, I must admit, enough to shake off the dust of the usual and step into that of the highly unusual. My journey into the world o... More..
Style & Beauty > Clothes (Other) How to organize a sock drawer: 1 of 6
MY SOCK DRAWER There are those sock drawers of the universe which are meticulouly organized and categorized not only by by color but by function and season. No doubt the wearers of the socks in these drawers are punctual, frugal and fastidious in their appearance. When one can pull a pair of socks from their drawer in under ... More..
Arts & Humanities > Performance Dance Experiences in Marching Band, Drum Corps or Winter Guard: 2 of 11
During the '60's, in the small coal region town of Girardville where I grew up, there were two things to do if you were a kid. One was roller skating because we had an indoor ring. The other was to join the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps. And join we did. Every kid in town belonged. It was a rite of passage, a regiment... More..
Education > Primary School (Other) Should public schools ban Halloween parties?: 9 of 42
Should public school ban Halloween parties? Absolutely not. Halloween is one of the last of the great remaining "kid" holidays - one of those sacred rituals of imagination and creativity of which life long memories are made. Take away Halloween from school children? That's like taking away St. Patrick's Day from the Irish. B... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Styles (Other) Should you let children sip your beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks?: 8 of 35
Should you let children sip your beer, wine or other alcoholic drinks? This is a loaded question - no pun intended. Although popular opinion may find excuses for letting a child experiement with alcohol under parental supervision, the notion that it reduces the risk or alcoholism and abuse has no scientific merit. If you wer... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Is it better to write a poem based on experience or based on opinion?: 18 of 71
Poetry is a funny quirk of literature. A poem must stand on its own as an individual work, certain in its uncertainty, quick witted in its use of metaphor and language, and unique in the poet's style and grace. It must be different, ah yes, yet it must be the same. Everyone has an opinion. Like assumptions, opinions can ofte... More..
Arts & Humanities > Poets & Poetry Does poetry matter in the 21st century?: 33 of 121
DOES POETRY MATTER IN THE 21ST CENTURY? In the question, does poetry matter in the 21st century, there is an inherent flaw that gives away the answer. Poetry is not a singular art that sits alone on a shelf waiting for the reader to discover it. It is not an isolated coupling of words that must be nursed and nutured with a s... More..