“Another Woman Shoved Down to the Gravel” is a poem by Darla Himeles about fear, strength, and the longing to move freely through the world without threat. Set against the wooded landscape of the Wissahickon, the poem explores what it means to inhabit a vulnerable body while dreaming of power, escape, and survival.

A powerful spoken‑word poem about grief, memory, and the weight of loss. Through vivid imagery—fig newtons and orange juice, a pine box lowered into earth, and the heavy dirt shoveled one by one—this piece reflects on a father’s mourning and the haunting rituals of burial. Expect emotional storytelling, lyrical depth, and a meditation on love, death, and remembrance.

A haunting spoken‑word poem about waiting, memory, and loss. From crows clawing at cement to the tense hours outside prison gates, this piece explores the echoes of childhood trauma, the search for a father, and the silence of absence. Expect visceral imagery, emotional depth, and a powerful reflection on family, resilience, and the haunting spaces between fences.

A haunting spoken‑word poem that revisits childhood memories of chaos, violence, and survival. Through vivid imagery—nickels spinning, castles built from baby bottles, and the piercing sounds of family conflict—this piece explores trauma, resilience, and the fragile innocence of youth. Expect powerful storytelling, emotional depth, and a poetic reflection on memory and healing. Perfect for audiences drawn to spoken word, poetry about family, and raw explorations of trauma and recovery.

A lyrical spoken‑word poem exploring tradition, family, and longing. From Challa wrapped in Malaysian linen to mezuzahs, doorways, and spoiled pots and pans, this piece reflects on heritage, desire, and the weight of belief. Expect evocative imagery, emotional depth, and a meditation on rituals, memory, and the touch of everything that bleeds into love and home.

This piece invites viewers into a still, contemplative morning on the Maine coast — a moonset, a shoreline, and the emotional weight of a community decision. It’s a meditation on change, loss, and the shifting light that follows collective action.

A haunting spoken‑word meditation on memory, desire, and the Anthropocene. From ancient dinosaurs to modern crises, this poem explores the flickering tunnels of human pain and hope, set against visions of irises, ghosts, and gasoline‑soaked futures. Expect evocative imagery, lyrical storytelling, and a powerful reflection on time, trauma, and resilience.

A lyrical spoken‑word meditation on home—its gardens, roads, rooms, and restless transformations. From heirloom tomatoes and ghost gardens to highways, basements, and rain‑washed windows, this poem explores longing, memory, and the search for a steady place between seed and wilt. Expect vivid imagery, emotional depth, and a powerful reflection on belonging, desire, and the ever‑changing idea of home.

A darkly satirical spoken‑word poem envisioning a future where cockroaches inherit the earth. Through vivid, unsettling imagery—plastic boulders, moldy couches, monkey skulls, and roach pheromone admissions—this piece explores extinction, survival, and the absurdity of human decline. Expect haunting storytelling, surreal humor, and a powerful reflection on what remains when humanity fades.

A lyrical spoken‑word poem weaving memory, family, and cosmic imagery. From a father’s gentle touch to a child as a “tiny astronaut,” this piece explores beginnings, reversals, and the fragile beauty of potential—like a fig leaf once a speck of star. Expect evocative storytelling, emotional depth, and a meditation on love, time, and the origins we carry within us.

A bold spoken‑word poem celebrating love, desire, and visibility in every space—from sidewalks and markets to Pride floats and mountain tops. This lyrical performance blends humor, passion, and urgency, insisting on kisses without fear or shame. Expect rhythmic repetition, evocative imagery, and a powerful call for intimacy and authenticity. Perfect for fans of spoken word, queer poetry, and raw emotional expression.

Experience “Little Blue”, a moving poem by contemporary poet Darla Himeles that transforms the image of a “little blue line” into a powerful meditation on hope, mercy, and possibility; this poetry reading captures the tenderness of anticipation and the beauty of finding meaning in everyday moments, making it perfect for lovers of modern poetry, literature students, and anyone seeking inspiration through verse—subscribe for more poetry readings and literary explorations.

“Manatee” is a contemporary eco‑poem by Darla Himeles, exploring tenderness, harm, and the fragile connection between humans and the natural world. In this reading, the poem’s imagery of ocean life, environmental damage, and quiet companionship is paired with a classical performance of Hunter’s Chorus (Weber), performed by Miles Himeles.

"Miriam, I Remember" by Darla Himeles (they/them) is a powerful spoken‑word poem exploring memory, trauma, and love. This performance is paired with Miles Himeles’s piano rendition of “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, creating a moving blend of poetry and music. Darla Himeles is a Philadelphia‑based poet, translator, and essayist, Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominee, and author of Flesh Enough (2017) and Cleave (2021). Their work often reflects themes of resilience, mental health, LGBTQ identity, faith, and the beauty of human connection.

Step into a lyrical journey of memory, trauma, and healing set against the iconic Santa Monica Ferris wheel and ocean pier. This spoken‑word piece blends vivid imagery with emotional depth, exploring cycles of grief, resilience, and renewal. Expect evocative storytelling, poetic reflections, and a meditation on finding breath and grounding amidst anxiety. Perfect for fans of poetry, mental health awareness, and ocean‑inspired art.

“Prayer for a Marriage” blends humor, vulnerability, and surreal imagery to capture what it means to grow old with someone you love. It’s a celebration of connection, physicality, and the small moments that define long‑term partnership.

“Redolence” by Darla Himeles is a lyrical meditation on scent, memory, and ancestral inheritance. This poem explores how experiences we never lived — almond blossoms on a breeze, the bitter almond of historical trauma, the imagined sweetness of a morning kiss — can still echo through the body across generations.

This video blends contemporary poetry and classical piano to explore themes of memory, extinction, parenthood, and the wonder of the natural world. Himeles’s poem imagines a future where elephants are gone, and a parent struggles to describe their beauty, weight, and presence to a child who will never see one. The poem moves from tactile imagery to the vastness of the blue whale, asking how we pass down awe in a world losing its giants.

A raw spoken‑word poem capturing childhood memories of violence, survival, and loss. Through visceral imagery—Tony hurled against a garage door, vanished dogs, and desperate searches—this piece explores trauma, resilience, and the haunting echoes of family conflict. Expect powerful storytelling, emotional depth, and a poetic reflection on memory and survival.

A haunting spoken‑word poem reflecting on the extinction of the passenger pigeon. Through stark, fragmented imagery—billions lost, Martha the last captive bird—this piece meditates on violence, memory, and the fragility of life. Expect powerful storytelling, historical resonance, and a lyrical reminder of what vanishes when humanity consumes without care.