Illustration by Tim Robinson.
1They inscribed their lives on clayand moved awayI hear the echo pulse by pulse
2Some memories we chaselike goats away from flowers,yet we wake one dayto the wilted ruins
3Let’s meet in the word forgottenfrom the dictionary, and breatheits air like the smell of the “klecha”my mother baked for the Eid holiday
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In my country, I was a stranger.In exile, I am strange
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The spider built its netin a statue’s open palm.For the spider, the palm is home,not a metaphor of home
Even before February 28, the reasons for Donald Trump’s imploding approval rating were abundantly clear: untrammeled corruption and personal enrichment to the tune of billions of dollars during an affordability crisis, a foreign policy guided only by his own derelict sense of morality, and the deployment of a murderous campaign of occupation, detention, and deportation on American streets.
Now an undeclared, unauthorized, unpopular, and unconstitutional war of aggression against Iran has spread like wildfire through the region and into Europe. A new “forever war”—with an ever-increasing likelihood of American troops on the ground—may very well be upon us.
As we’ve seen over and over, this administration uses lies, misdirection, and attempts to flood the zone to justify its abuses of power at home and abroad. Just as Trump, Marco Rubio, and Pete Hegseth offer erratic and contradictory rationales for the attacks on Iran, the administration is also spreading the lie that the upcoming midterm elections are under threat from noncitizens on voter rolls. When these lies go unchecked, they become the basis for further authoritarian encroachment and war.
In these dark times, independent journalism is uniquely able to uncover the falsehoods that threaten our republic—and civilians around the world—and shine a bright light on the truth.
The Nation’s experienced team of writers, editors, and fact-checkers understands the scale of what we’re up against and the urgency with which we have to act. That’s why we’re publishing critical reporting and analysis of the war on Iran, ICE violence at home, new forms of voter suppression emerging in the courts, and much more.
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6
Imprisoned in the magical lampfor years that exceeded even the jinni’s abilityto count; he cannot wish himself out.His brief freedoms only comewhen others wish for a bit of luck
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When Human cries,Dog thinks the world is ending.When Human smiles,two stars from the world’s endglitter in Dog’s eyes.When Human makes waror any other ridiculous thing,Dog begs to curl up together on the rug
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She calls aloud for the absenteesin her country’s air,calling day and nightuntil they cling in her voice
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9
If you don’t carry the sunwithin, then why does lightspill from you everywhere?
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Deep inside the beach,moss grows around a rock,a soft embrace.When the water washes it away,it trembles like the gestureswe make waving from balconiesfor our loved onesin pandemic times
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We remember the days from the wordsof our beloved people
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They kept drawing circles on the groundas if their alphabet is a feeling with no end
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Sometimes I scribble imagesbecause I don’t have the words
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I ask the moon: Which is more worthy of loveyour light or darkness?Moon answers: A worthy love accepts both faces
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On the chess board,a pawn crawls to the last squareto survive
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Earth, too, needs a space
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I time-traveled to youfor a question
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Through closed eyes,she saw their stolen bodies,their scattered feathers,and their flutes
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Sad silence is translated into all languages
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The first moment of war: a slippery fish from the river
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The cage owner reminds the sparrow:life outside is inferno.One day the sparrow flies awayand there in the heights,overlooking the ruins of the world,the sparrow discovers the cage owner was right.It sings about the ruins,a beautiful song with no walls
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Does the clock knowthat its little ticksmake eternity?
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With one click, I can download your smile and everything will be good
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Let love bethe new world order
Dunya MikhailDunya Mikhail works as a special lecturer at Oakland University.