Bag of Bones

“The War Works Hard” by Dunya Mikhail (2005)

A poem by Dunya Mikhail on the horrors of war, from the 2005 poetry collection of the same name. One of two companion pieces presented with “Bag of Bones” in the NPR feature on the poet.

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

The third poem included in the NPR feature on Dunya Mikhail, “Yesterday I Was in a Hurry” reflects on 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: Poet’s Website by Dunya Mikhail (2021).

The official website of Dunya Mikhail, featuring a wealth of material including interviews, reviews, and translations of her work.

“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 war and life as a refugee who fled Saddam Hussein’s government.