Time as Spiritual Geography: A Reading of the Psychological Reflections of

Majid Al-Badiri, Abd Ali

doi:10.22059/jal-lq.2026.400632.1525

Time as Spiritual Geography: A Reading of the Psychological Reflections of "Night" in the Poetry of Fawzi Karim (Based on Paul Ricoeur's Theory)

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Abd Ali Majid Al-Badiri

Shiraz University, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Shiraz, Iran

10.22059/jal-lq.2026.400632.1525

Abstract

This study presents an analytical reading of the night experience in the poetry of Fawzi Karim, employing the theoretical framework developed by philosopher Paul Ricoeur concerning the relationship between time and identity. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to uncover the existential and psychological dimensions that the night assumes in poetic texts, transforming from a mere temporal phenomenon into a symbolic space rich with meanings. In Karim's poetry, the night emerges as a mirror reflecting the deepest conflicts of the human self, becoming an open space for contemplation and existential confrontation. Through textual analysis, it becomes evident how the night serves as a realm for memory retrieval and the reshaping of identity through poetic narration—a continuous process of remembrance that creates what can be termed a "narrative identity," in line with Ricoeur's conception. The study also reveals the darker dimensions of the night experience, where it becomes a domain of alienation and existential anxiety, as well as a stage for confronting the fragility and transience of existence. In this context, the night transforms into an existential laboratory where the self-tests its limits and transcends the familiar toward deeper, more enigmatic realms. The findings confirm that Fawzi Karim's poetry turns the night into a dynamic poetic narrative, vividly reflecting humanity's struggle with time and nothingness, as well as its perpetual quest to reconstruct the meaning of existence. This perspective deeply intersects with Ricoeur's philosophy, which links the fragility of time with the possibilities of identity reconstruction.

Keywords

Poetic charisma

Imam Hussain

Iraqi literature

Qasim Wali

Subjects