Ali Moallem-Damghani

Ali Moallem-Damghani was born in the city of Damghan (Semnan province, Iran) in the year 1962. His fame in the figurative language of poetry in contemporary Iran, together with his songs and commentaries on poets such as Bidel Dehlavi, place his name among the great poets of the Islamic Revolution. Moallem displayed himself as a full-scale poet with a unique style and strong language in his two poetry collections titled “Red Return of the Sun” and “Heyrat Damideh-am.” Although one might not be able to find a large number of poems under the rubric of the revolution and the eight-year-long Iran-Iraq War among his works, the spirit of sacrifice, martyrdom, separation, awaiting, and in general, the ideals of an Islamic society – stated in the most artistic manner – can be observed in all of his works. In his poetry, Moallem combines epic spirit with innovative words; with his knowledge of the tradition of poetry and ancient wisdom, he presents his audience with a fiery blend of intricate poems. It is as if poems scholarly attempt to elucidate the theoretical and doctrinal roots of Islam and the revolution, with an artistic touch. His literary behaviour together with his cultural and artistic responsibilities from the onset of the revolution and his unique literary character, prove him far superior to the rest of his contemporaries and give him a charismatic sagaciousness. Although Damghani’s poetry and speech are sophisticated and difficult to understand, he gives what is known as a “revolutionary song” a delicate soul. This poem, with the vocals of Mohammad Esfahani, is a fine painting of the scenes of the warfront:

“Oh people, there is a world of difference

Between seeing and hearing

Go ask those

Who have seen what is heard

The secret of the trenches of love

Must be asked from the star

Who knows the fervour of the thirsty

Except the sun?”

Ali Moallem-Damghani died in Tehran in March 2017 at the age of 54.