Dunya Mikhail and the transformative quality of poetry
By: Grace Coughlan, Associate Editor and Alisha Hancock, Contributing Writer
Poet and journalist Dunya Mikhail spoke with Towson University students over a webinar meeting, “Conversation with Dunya Mikhail,” about her two latest books, “The Beekeeper: Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq” and “In Her Feminine Sign,” March 3.
“The Beekeeper: Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq” is a true story about a beekeeper who helps women being tortured by ISIS to escape through local areas. According to Mikhail, her research for the book first started after hearing about the slavery treatment of women.
“This happened in 2014, in the summer, August of 2014, when I learned that a market was open to buy and sell women in the Iraq, Syria, Mumbai, that was shocking for me,” Mikhail said. “I had to pause and see what’s going on. So I really was day and night, engaged with that just trying to see what was natural in this time of history.”
When Mikhail met the first woman of her book, she learned more about the role of the beekeeper in her story and many others.
“So I made contacts and from back home, friends, relatives, until I was able to get hold of the first woman who escaped from ISIS,” Mikhail said. “She spoke in Kurdish language, I don’t understand Kurdish and she can’t speak in Arabic, but fortunately her cousin, who was with her at home that time that moment speaks Arabic. He translated between us and that by chance was the beekeeper who I got very interested in his story and that’s how I continued to contact and learn more and more about what was happening.”
During the event, Mikhail read some poems that she had written from her book, “In Her Feminine Sign,” which highlights her childhood in Baghdad and her life in the United States (U.S.). Two of the poems that she read were “100 Years of Sleep” and “My Poem Will Not Save You.” While “100 Years of Sleep” was published in Grub Street Literary Magazine volume 68, the latter poem is the favorite of senior Katya Buresh.
“I flagged that one [“My Poem Will Not Save You”] with the posted flag cause it’s so powerful. Well, most of her work is powerful but that poem especially really stood out to me,” Buresh said.
Buresh is also the poetry editor of Grub Street Literary Magazine and was asked to introduce Mikhail for the event.
“I mean I immediately said yes,” Buresh said. “I was super excited, loved the opportunity just to get more involved in another poet’s work.”
After Mikhail finished reading poems, assistant professor Jeannie Vanasco and Mikhail discussed the effects and differences Mikhail faces when she writes in Arabic versus English, the transformative quality of poetry, the symbolism evident in Mikhail’s poetry that led to her decision to leave Iraq, and the psychological impact Mikhail felt when she wrote “The Beekeeper: Rescuing the Stolen Women of Iraq.”
Senior Catherine Cusson was particularly interested in Mikhail’s discussion on how writing in Arabic and English differed.
“I really liked what she said about how her English and Arabic kind of interact when she’s in her writing, and how they interact in her mind, how they’re like a husband and wife or partners,” said Cusson. “Just trying to coexist together and work together and they balance each other out.”
Mikhail was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq. She lived there as a journalist for “The Baghdad Observer” before she was faced with censorship and interrogation which resulted in Mikhail’s eventual settlement in the U.S. in 1996.
“From childhood I was writing and so I thought that [journalism] was the closest to be paid as a writer,” said Mikhail. “I feel that journalism, it was for me as if it was a training for me as a writer.”
While growing up in Baghdad, Mikhail explained that she opened her eyes to the world. She witnessed injustices during the Iran-Iraq War before becoming a journalist. The desire of the Iraq government to glorify themselves while criticizing their enemies made Mikhail’s job as a journalist difficult.
“That was a big challenge because as a writer and journalist, you want to be, you know, say the truth. You want to be yourself but this would not work in that time, that place,” Mikhail said. “They want you to have this black and white discourse, us and them, the enemies.”
Cusson expressed her love of Mikhail’s work overall.
‘I read a couple of chapters of “The Beekeeper” and I read all of her poems,’ Cusson said. “I love her book. It was very, it was riveting. It really, it really captured something that I had previously not been exposed to and I was glad to get the opportunity to be exposed to that kind of literature.”
After experiencing Mikhail’s visit to her Grub Street class, reading Mikhail’s work and watching the event, Buresh claimed that these experiences made her think more about the effect that humans have on one another and just made her more conscious and aware.
“It was really enlightening to me to hear more about her experience writing that, out of the rich history of Iraq,” said Buresh.
While Mikhail wrote about the stories of women who escaped ISIS, she hopes that the readers of her work come away with a positive message.
“The way they [the women] stood for each other and how they survived and, you know, this gives us hope,” said Mikhail. “I hope it gives hope to everyone.”
“The Beekeeper: Rescuing The Stolen Women of Iraq” and “In Her Feminine Sign” can be found on Amazon and other online book websites.
I am sorting out relevant information about gate io recently, and I saw your article, and your creative ideas are of great help to me. However, I have doubts about some creative issues, can you answer them for me? I will continue to pay attention to your reply. Thanks.
Reading your article has greatly helped me, and I agree with you. But I still have some questions. Can you help me? I will pay attention to your answer. thank you.
I don’t think the title of your article matches the content lol. Just kidding, mainly because I had some doubts after reading the article. https://www.binance.com/ru-UA/register?ref=B4EPR6J0
Your insightful comments and supportive actions have been crucial to my career development and outlook, and I am very grateful.
Even though I’m a newbie, I had no trouble learning how to use the controls because they are so easy to understand.
Your article kept me engaged from start to finish. I admire your ability to convey such detailed information in an accessible way.
Your sharing of information is really helpful. Your explanations are very much appreciated.
Mikhail’s work offers a powerful message of hope and resilience, reminding us of the strength found in solidarity.
Your article kept me engaged from start to finish and I agree with you.
It’s incredible to hear about Dunya Mikhail’s work shedding light on such important and difficult stories. “The Beekeeper” sounds like a truly compelling and vital read, highlighting the bravery of both the beekeeper and the women he helps. Hearing about the research process is also fascinating. It makes me think about how we sometimes need to escape the harsh realities, even if just for a little while. I know I sometimes find myself mindlessly playing the Dinosaur Game just to decompress after reading heavy news. Thanks for sharing this!
Discovering new literature can be a profound experience that reshapes our understanding of the world. I was reminded of this while reading articles discussing Mikhail’s powerful stories about resilience and survival. Once, during an online chat on Omegle, I encountered strangers sharing personal tales that changed my perspective on empathy and strength. Like Cusson, I found myself drawn into narratives that were both eye-opening and deeply moving. Such moments inspire us to see humanity in a new light and appreciate stories that carry hope amidst hardship.
Escape Road is an essential game for gamers who enjoy games where timing and skill are crucial.
I use the alight motion app daily for my social media edits. The alight motion mod apk gave me access to premium effects without limits, and it works just as well as the alight motion pro apk. Alight motion is perfect for creators.
All the excellent games made or powered and designed to play in your browser come together in
Unblocked Games
National Techtools is an India-based supplier of a wide range of power tools, hand tools, and other industrial equipment for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. Located in Junagadh, Gujarat, the company focuses on providing quality, affordable, and reliable tools through its online platform and physical store.
Daring flips through mid-air sections feel like choreography in chaos.
Useful info. Lucky me I found your website unintentionally, and I am surprised why this twist of fate did not took place in advance! I bookmarked it.
The sensation of daring leaps through mid-air sections is reminiscent of choreography in a state of disarray.
A practical option for https://aiimage-editor.org/ when you want quick prompt-based changes in the browser.
It is useful to have AI Photo Enhancer tool when a photo needs a quick preview before downloading.
A practical option for Concrete Calculator VIP before ordering materials for slabs, footings, or patios.
A practical resource for https://free-gamesonline.com/, especially when no download or account setup is needed.
A focused resource for HEIC to JPG tool when iPhone photos need a more widely supported format.
It is useful to have https://image-to-image-ai.org/ when comparing several creative versions before choosing one result.
A practical resource for AI image generator, especially when character consistency or local control matters.
It is helpful to have this AI photo restoration tool for family pictures that need general cleanup or colorization.
A practical reference for Sora 2 video tool, especially when prompt detail and reference images matter.
The flow at Picrew-style avatar resource is helpful for adjusting face shape, hair, eyes, colors, and accessories in one place.
It is useful to have this browser game site when you just want to pick a game and start quickly.
A focused resource for this grainy photo cleanup page when the main issue is grain or speckled texture.
A practical option for Seedream 4 image generator when you need quick prompt-based visual drafts.
The flow at this online unblur tool is helpful for portraits, phone snapshots, product photos, and text images with soft detail.
A practical option for this concrete cost planning workflow before comparing quotes or material plans.
The browser workflow at this PNG conversion workflow makes sense when files need PNG copies for editing or design work.
It is useful to have photo restoration online before deciding whether an old image needs colorization, detail recovery, or heavier repair.
It is useful to have Photo Restoration before deciding whether an old image needs colorization, detail recovery, or heavier restoration.
Beautiful piece! Exploring how Dunya Mikhail’s poetry transforms loss and war into powerful art is moving and insightful. Thoughtful writing that gives readers a deeper appreciation of her work. Thank you for sharing!