Poetic Dwelling: Heidegger's Reflections on Home in the Poetry of Ada Limon and Kathleen Jamie

Abstract

This study has examined how the poetry of Ada Limon and Kathleen Jamie embodies Martin Heidegger's concept of "poetic dwelling" positing that these poets articulate a profound sense of home and belonging through their literary works. It has investigated the central research question: How do Limón and Jamie's poetic expressions reflect and exemplify Heidegger's notion of dwelling, and what do these reflections reveal about our understanding of home? The study has analyzed imagery and thematic resonances in their poetry, contributing to a broader discourse on home and existential belonging. Through a qualitative, interpretive methodology, it conducts a close reading of selected poems, drawing on Heideggerian philosophy, particularly his ideas in Building, Dwelling, Thinking and Poetry, Language, thought to explain selected poems from Ada Limon's The Carrying (2018) and Jamie Katheen’s The Overhaul (2012). The findings of the study shows that Limón's poetry portrays home as a fluid and dynamic concept intertwined with personal and communal narratives. At the same time, Jamie's work offers a more ecological and relational perspective on dwelling. Through their direct and clear evocations of place, both poets align with Heidegger's vision of dwelling as a poetic act transcending mere physicality, highlighting a holistic, interconnected experience of being. This study underscores the significance of poetic dwelling in contemporary literary and philosophical contexts.