Poeto Vilniečio "Toks gyvenimas" ; Toks gyvenimas ['Such is life'] by a Vilnius poet

Abstract

The war found J. Kekstas in Vilnius. In March 1940, the Soviet authorities arrested him and deported to hard labors in Kirov region. Having been released as a Polish citizen in a year and a half, J. Kekstas joined the army led by gen. V. Anders and moved to Persia. Subsequently he reached Iran, Iraq, Palestine, and Egypt, took part in the military campaigns and battles, and composed poems overflowing with nostalgia for his homeland. Having been injured, he was cured in South Italy. Afterwards he experienced hardships of emigration to Argentina. In 1957, the poet became seriously ill and was half-paralyzed. Thanks to the efforts of Polish writers, he moved to Poland in 1959. J. Kekstas died in April 16, 1981 and was buried in Warsaw.