Feminist poet Adrienne Rich dies at 82 SANTA CRUZ, Calif., March 29 (UPI) -- Adrienne Rich, an American poet considered among the most influential writers of the feminist movement, has died at the age of 82. She died Tuesday at her home in Santa Cruz, Calif., of complications from rheumatoid arthritis,The New York Times reported. Her writing on the oppression of women and lesbians was lauded for bringing the issues to the forefront of poetic discourse, the newspaper said. Her many awards include a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship in 1994 and a National Book Award for poetry in 1974 for "Diving Into the Wreck."