Russian poet.  Smelyakov was born on Jauary 8, 1913 into a working class family.  Smelyakov spent his childhood in a village.  In 1931 Smelyakov graduated from the Poligraphic Factory School, where he would "publish" his poetry by sticking it to the bulletin board of the factory school.  Bagritsky and Svetlov, both poets, noticed the poetic potential of Smelyakov.

In 1932 Smelyakov's first book of poetry appeared, Work and Love.  In World War II Smelyakov fought as a foot soldier, in 1941 was captured and until 1944 spent time in a Finnish prison.  After the war Smelyakov spent much time publishing his poems and a steady stream of poetry appeared from 1948 until 1975.  Smelyakov died in 1972.