Romanian poet Nina Cassian, who was exiled from Romania during the communist period for her unpublished poems satirizing the regime of dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, died at 89 earlier this week.

She was living in the United States, where she was forced to seek asylum in 1985. Cassian became known in the West, after her poems were translated into English, and after she started writing directly in English.

She died at home earlier this week, from a heart attack, her husband Maurice Edwards told The Associated Press. The two had married when they were both in their 70s.

Cassian, who received political asylum in the US in the 80s, wrote 50 books, including a volume of poems in English in 1998.

Earlier this week, a memorial service was held in New York for Cassian, before her ashes were sent home to Romania.

editor@romania-insider.com