16 pages • 32 minutes read
Dunya MikhailThe War Works Hard
Nonfiction | Poem | Adult | Published in 2005A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Further Reading & Resources
Related Poems
“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.
Further Literary Resources
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)
An NPR interview with Dunya Mikhail from 2013, in which Mikhail discusses her former life in Iraq and her experiences of both war and life as a refugee fleeing Saddam Hussein’s government. A highly relevant interview for any reader who wishes to understand how Mikhail’s life experiences influence her depictions of war and suffering in poems such as “The War Works Hard”.
“Dunya Mikhail: Flashed through Exile” by Guernica Magazine (2014).
An interview with Guernica magazine in which Mikhail discusses her writing style and the production of her work, in terms of both inspiration and translation.
“A Cloud, Rain, Memory and an Accent – An Interview with Dunya Mikhail” by The Dreaming Machine (2017)
A lengthy, wide-ranging interview about Mikhail’s life and work, which will be of particular interest to readers wanting to hear more about her background. Mikhail also shares her experiences in writing in both Arabic (her native language) and English (the language of her adopted country, the United States).
“Interview: Dunya Mikhail“ by International Prize for Arabic Fiction (2021)
An interview with the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in which Mikhail discusses her shortlisted novel, The Bird Tattoo, featuring Yazidi protagonists struggling under the ISIS’ reign of terror.
“Aesthetic enthusiasm: An Interview with Dunya Mikhail“ by Michigan Quarterly Review (2021)
In this interview, Mikhail discusses her approach to writing and the motivations behind her work, as well as some brief thoughts on the Covid-19 pandemic and writing in difficult times. A part of Michigan Quarterly Review’s “Why We Write” series.
“Interview: Iraqi poet Dunya Mikhail shares her thoughts on her first novel The Bird Tattoo“ by Ahram Online (2021)
An in-depth interview with Mikhail about her 2021 novel, The Bird Tattoo, in which Mikhail discusses the novel’s purpose and inspiration and also provides insight into how she became a writer.
“The Pen Ten with Dunya Mikhail“ by Pen America (2015)
In this interview with Pen America from 2015, Mikhail covers topics such as censorship, the role of the writer, and her own experiences of persecution.
Listen to Poem
In this audio recording for NPR, Dunya Mikhail reads the title poem from her poetry collection, The War Works Hard (2015).
