Saad Al-Bawardi

Saad Abdulrahman Al-Bawardi (1930-2025) was a Saudi poet, journalist, and columnist. He was described as the founder of the school of realistic poetry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He established Al-Isha'a Magazine in Al-Khobar and was awarded the Order of King Abdulaziz of First Class in 2014.

Saad Al-Bawardi was born and studied in Shaqra Governorate, northwest of the capital city of Riyadh. He later moved to Unaizah Governorate in Qassim Province and then to Taif Governorate in Makkah Al-Mukarramah Province. He enrolled in Dar Al-Tawhid in Taif governorate, but due to life circumstances, he had to leave his studies and enter the workforce while continuing his reading and learning.

Al-Bawardi held various positions, including Director of Public Relations at the ‏Ministry of Education‏ (formerly the Ministry of Knowledge). He also served as the editor-in-chief of ‏Al-Maarifa Magazine‏, secretary of the Supreme Council for Education, and secretary of the Supreme Council for Sciences, Arts, and Letters. Later, He was appointed as a cultural attaché in Beirut and Cairo until his retirement in 1989.

Saad Al-Bawardi was actively engaged in various cultural activities and pursued journalism, contributing to Al-Maarifa Magazine and founding Al-Isha'a Magazine, which he published monthly in Al-Khobar Governorate, ‏Eastern Province,‏ in 1956. The magazine ceased publication after twenty-three issues. Following its discontinuation, Al-Bawardi wrote for several columns in Saudi and Arab newspapers, including Al-Bab Al-Maftouh (The Open Door), Al-Nafithah (The Window), Ma’a Al-Nas (With People), Al-Salam Alaikum (Peace Be Upon You), Istirahah Dakhil Sawmi’at Al-Fikr (A Break Inside the Thought Monastery), and Afkar Madghoutah (Compressed Thoughts).

Al-Bawardi's writings encompassed poetry, prose, short stories, and essays. He published several poetry collections, including Ughniyat Al-Awdah (The Song of Return), Tharrat fi Al-Ufuq (Particles on the Horizon), Laqatat Mulawwanah (Colored Snapshots), Saffarat Al-Inthar (The Siren), Ruba'iyyati (My Quatrains), Aghani li-Biladi (Songs for My Country), Ibhar wa La Bahr (Sailing Without a Sea), Qasa'id Tatawakka’ ‘Ala ‘Ukaz (Poems Leaning on a Crutch), Qasa'id Tukhatib Al-Insan (Poems Addressing Humanity), and Hulm Tufuli (A Childish Dream).

In prose, he authored six books focusing on essay writing, the first of which was published in 1973 under the title Thartharat Al-Sabah (Morning Chatter), followed by Huruf Tabhath ‘An Hawiyyah (Letters Searching for an Identity) in 1999, and Istirahah fi Sawmi’at Al-Fikr (A Break Inside the Monastery of Thought) in 2010. He also published a single short story collection titled Shabah min Filastin (A Ghost from Palestine) and other works, including Tajribati Ma’a Al-Shi’r Al-Sha’bi (My Experience with Traditional Poetry), Abyat wa Bayat (Verses and Nights), and Mathal Sha’bi fi Qissah (A Traditional Proverb in a Story), among others.