Salah Abdel Sabour

Salah Abdel Sabour Salah Abdel-Sabour is indeed a pioneer of the modern Arabic poetry. Together with Badr Shaker Assayab in Iraq, Al Mala’ika in Palestine, Abdel Mo’ti Hegazy in Egypt other else where in the Arab world, they laid the foundation of a new school of Arabic poetry. They formulated their own experience in new authentic, creative patterns. Although this trend remained modernist all through, it will maintained an intimate attitude towards national heritage original Arabic taste. Abdel Sabour himself was a follower of the free art which viewed art as an expression of unbridled imaginativeness, true, vehement emotions, within a highly romantic context. He believed that genuine poetry could be written only through absolute self-communion. He remained faithful to his own principles all through his life until his death on August 14, 1981. Born in May 1931, Salah Abdel-Sabour obtained B.A (Arabic Language), at Cairo University in 1951, as secondary school student, he showed a noticeable interest in languages, literature and politics. He also took part in popular demonstration against British occupation, and in 1949 he was arrested at the age of 18. Abdel-Sabour showed an interest in literature in his early life, tended to poetry from his father, who had attempted during his youth to write poetry, and later taught his son rhetoric. Abdel-Sabour started writing verses at the age of 13. In his early youth, he tried to find for literature a new significance beyond rhetoric eloquent expression, attending to approach other realms of arts such as music and painting. He was so happy when he found himself face to face with such great men of letters as Taha Hussein, Ahmed Amin, Ibrahim Nagui, he was a teacher While in the teaching profession, he co-edited "Al Thaqafa" (Culture) magazine, until January 1953, where he wrote several poems and short stories. In 1954, he had his poem" Melancholy" published in Al-Arab (Letters) magazine. In 1957, his first collection of poems "People in My Country" was published, shooting the poet into fame, so far than any other poet in the Arab world. In 1981, his second collection "I am saying to you", and his third "Dreams of an Ancient Knight" in 1964. According to most of his critics, including those in disagreement with him, these poems reached highest peaks never achieved by modern poetry. Abdel-Sabour literature was not confined to poetry, but rather extended to poetic drama. Within a period of ten years, he published five poetic plays. The first was "The Tragedy of Al-Hallaj (1965), based on which he was granted the State Incentive Award for Theater in 1966. His poetic style had the advantage of blending spontaneity with craftsmanship. One of his major concerns was the question of modernization and revival, which Arab civilization has been going through since the mid-15th century. He believed that new life could never be built only by reviving the hole mass of ancient heritage but rather by discussing those parts in compatible with the modern time and exploring and rejuvenating those aortas instrumental to the enlightenment of the nation. He, therefore, maintained that, while keeping in contact with other civilizations, we should keep loyal to national identity and heritage. He interpreted the talent melancholy in his poetry as some sort of his sense of responsibility; a positive rather than a negative. In his own words, "I am not possessed with melancholy; I do rather possess it as a stimulant to achieve self-rejuvenating and higher and more conscious prospects beyond the ego". Salah abdel Sabour rejected the concepts of intellectual unity among poets; he was rather in favor of variance within harmony, where each poet had his own distinct character and his own intellectual starting point. Abdel Sabour’s poetic dictum have several sources, some of which were derived from sophism, the Holy Qur’an, the Bible as well as philosophical, historical or folkloric origins. Salah Abdel Sabour passed through a number stages along his poetic career. The most significant transformation, following his early beginning took place when he moved from the expression of common issues of his notion to that of his private worries, concerns and deep chagrins . While in the former his expression was characterized with firmness, optimism and faith in life in the latter he was depressed and pessimistic. In addition to poetry and poetic drama, the great poet also practiced critical writing. In literary studies, he issued 14 books, wherein he reviewed Arabic and international, old and modern literary heritage, including various literary genres. He also tackled many intellectual and art issues in a broad human context. He paid special attention to contemporary Egyptian thought. He also contributed critical essays to Rose El Youssef and Sabah El Kheir Magazines and Al Ahram daily. Abdel Sabour’s intellectual and literary career can be divided into 3 phases: Phase I starting in 1991, was characterized by his infatuation with Marxism. Within 10 years his admiration of Marxism had abated, as he failed to achieve any satisfaction or peace with the theory. He then turned to existentialism, to which he remained committed to a philosophical up to around 1971. His play "Night Traveller" expressed the failure of his attachment to existentialism to satisfy his spiritual needs as a poet. The later phase of his life were marked with deep-rooted faith in good, right and justice. After a deep and protracted concern with man alone, he thought it was then time to turn to God with firm rational faith. "Now I am in peace with God", he said ,"I do believe that every addition to humanity is a step forward to perfection; to God proper." His collection of poetry included : People in my country - I speak unto you - Dreams of an ancient night - Meditation on a warded time Poetic drama - The Princess is waiting - Tragedy of Al Hallaj - Night traveller - Layla and the maniac In addition to : 10 books of literary studies and 200 press articles in literary criticism and literary study.