Israeli post David Avidan was found dead May 11 in his Tel Aviv apartment. Avidan suffered from asthma, but the cause of death was not immediately known.
Avidan, 61, was born in Tel Aviv. He published more than 30 books of poetry, and his work appeared in translation in international anthologies. Last year, Avidan received the prestigious Bialik Poetry Award in Israel.
An accomplished playwright and screenwriter as well, Avidan was known for his creative use of the Hebrew language. He wrote four short films, one of which, “Sex,” was shown at a Cannes Film Festival in the early 1970s.
Avidan, a leader of the modern generation of Israeli poets, reportedly was unable to support himself financially. A June 1994 television report showed his poor living conditions.
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