It seems clear to the reader that Hatif Janabi’s poems are open to various literary, mythological, and religious texts, which have a distinct importance in the human heritage. These influential works emanate from the suffering of their authors and reflect the experiences of peoples, as well as issues of general human existence. What attracts attention is that the Iraqi poet applied the myths in his works in a suggestive manner that calls for reflection. It was indicated in a previous chapter of this book that Janabi used a sentence from the Epic of Gilgamesh as the title of one of his poetry collections. Perhaps, this shows the poet’s passion for myth, being the son of a country, whose people were among the first nations to write down their inspiring legends.

When looking closely at the relationship with myths in Janabi’s poems, we notice that he used them in two ways: First, by indirectly referring to some of the characteristics of that myth, without entering the atmosphere of the myth completely. As for the second way, it is through direct reference to the legends, mentioned by name.

In his texts, the Iraqi poet often includes words and signs referring to Greek mythology, showing an inclination for the “Lower World” with the mention of the “lower spirits,” which are related to the legendary world of Orpheus and Hades. However, Janabi quickly mentions Orpheus, who is a legendary musician and prophet of Greek mythology. Legend has it that he composed several songs for his wife Eurydice, and that he descended into the underworld – the realm of the dead to return her to the living. There, the minds of the deities were fascinated the splendor of his chant, but he failed to fulfill the wishes of the gods, so he lost his wife forever.

Apparently, Janabi wanted to express, just as this Greek myth did, the cruel fate that the poetic hero faces at the bottom of a miserable life, and thus resembles Orpheus who loses hope of salvation. The legend of Orpheus was an inspiration for European and Arab artists and writers at various times, including a large group of contemporary creators.