Darla Ida Himeles (they/them) is a poet, translator, essayist, and educator whose work moves at the intersection of ecology, identity, Jewish experience, and the intimate complexities of daily life. They are the author of Cleave and Flesh Enough (Get Fresh Books), and their poems and essays appear widely in journals such as American Poetry Review, Beloit Poetry Journal, The Gay & Lesbian Review, The Night Heron Barks, and NAILED Magazine. Their writing has been recognized with Pushcart Prize nominations, fellowships from the Highlights Foundation, and honors from contests including the Harbor Editions Laureate Prize and the Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition.
A committed teacher and literary citizen, Darla serves as an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of English & Creative Writing at Widener University, where they teach poetry, writing, and courses on resilience and transformation. They have also taught at Temple University, Maine Maritime Academy, and numerous community‑based programs, bringing a deep belief in attentiveness, empathy, and craft to every classroom.
Darla is a frequent reader at bookstores, universities, and literary festivals across the country, sharing work that blends lyric precision with emotional clarity. Whether writing about the natural world, the body, or the stories we inherit, their work invites readers into a space of reflection, connection, and careful listening.
Read Michele Zipkin’s Philadelphia Gay News feature about Darla here.
Read The Wild Word “Center Stage” feature (3 poems and a Q&A) here.