The War Works Hard

“Bag of Bones“ by Dunya Mikhail (2005)

A poem by Dunya Mikhail on the aftermath of a state-sponsored massacre, from the 2005 poetry collection The War Works Hard. One of two other companion pieces presented with “The War Works Hard” in the NPR feature on the poet.

“Yesterday I Was in a Hurry“ by Dunya Mikhail (2005)

The third poem included in “The War Works Hard” NPR feature on Dunya Mikhail. “Yesterday I Was in a Hurry” is a reflection upon an exile’s sense of loss and displacement and draws upon Mikhail’s personal experiences as a former refugee from Iraq.

“The Iraqi Nights” by Dunya Mikhail (2013)

A war poem that explores the cycles of violence and war in Iraqi history, from the 2013 collection The Iraqi Nights.

Dunya Mikhail: Official Website by Dunya Mikhail (2021).

The official website of the poem’s author, Dunya Mikhail, featuring a wealth of material including interviews, reviews, events information, and translations of her work. The website is frequently updated and still current at the time of this guide’s writing.

“Revisiting Iraq Through the Eyes of an Exiled Poet“ by NPR (2013)