Turkey's 'greatest living poet' Gulten Akin dies at 82

ANKARA

Gulten Akin, voted Turkey's greatest living poet in 2008, died at the age of 82 at a hospital in the capital Ankara on Wednesday, hospital sources said.

Akin, who was born 1933 in the central Turkish province of Yozgat, was one of the most influential poets in Turkish literature, with many of her poems translated into other languages, and over 40 made into songs.

Akin, whose first poem was published in 1951, was voted Turkey's greatest living poet in 2008 by a group of literary critics, poets and fiction writers.

She was also the recipient of many literature and poetry awards with her 12 major collections.

Akin's funeral ceremony is scheduled for Friday.