Sigitas Geda was born in the village of , in the
Lazdijai district of
Lithuania during the
German occupation of Lithuania, to Zigmas Geda and Aleksandra Gedienė. He was the fourth of seven children. Geda studied history and
philology at
Vilnius University. His collection
Pėdos (Footprints) was published in 1966. He was also a leading figure in the
Movement for the Support of Perestroika or
Sąjūdis. For a time Geda withdrew from public life in the independent Lithuania because of his dislike of corruption and infighting. Geda's poetry has been translated into English by
Kerry Shawn Keys. == Awards ==