by Michele Mekel
to be
in the path
of love
is to stand
in the middle
of a trail
of fire
aflame
lover and beloved
become
only
love
Living in Happy Valley, Michele Mekel wears many hats of her choosing: educator, bioethicist, poetess, cat herder, witch, and woman. Mekel has more than 150 poems published, as well as a recently-released chapbook (Under a Quiet Moon). Her work has appeared in various academic and creative publications, including being featured on Garrison Keillor’s The Writer’s Almanac and nominated for Best of the Net. Her poetry has also been translated into Cherokee. She served as co-principal investigator for the Viral Imaginations: COVID-19 project (viralimaginations.psu.edu).