poet, of lung cancer George MacBeth, 60 (born 1932), Scottish-born poet, novelist and critic, of motor neuron disease February 18 – Robert Gittings, 81 (born 1911), English poet and biographer February 29 – Ruth Pitter, 94 (born 1897), English poet and decorative painter April 11 – Eve Merriam, née Moskowitz, 75 (born 1916), American poet, playwright and teacher, of cancer May 12 – Nikos Gatsos, 80 (born 1911), Greek poet, translator and lyricist May 21 – Bimbo Rivas, 52 (born 1939), Puerto Rican-born American actor, community activist, director, playwright, poet and teacher, of heart attack November 17 – Audre Lorde (aka Gamba Adisa), 58 (born 1934), African American writer, poet and political activist, of liver cancer November 19 – Kenneth Burke, 96 (born 1897), American literary theorist and philosopher See also Poetry List of years in poetry List of poetry awards References 20th-century poetry Poetry