In the spring of 1902 his father died. In the same year died brother and two sisters. All this left a deep imprint on the soul of a poet. Five years from 1903 to 1908 Kupala traveled in search of work.
At the same time he began writing his first poems in Polish. May 15, 1905 the poem "Muzhyk” in Minsk newspaper ”Northwest Territory” was published. Then the fall collections ”Psaltery players”, ”Dear Life”, a poem ”The well-known song,” dramatic poem ”Dream on the mound", the comedy ”Paulinka".
In early 1919 Kupala moved to Minsk. In 1922 he published a new book ”Legacy”. In his poems the poet writes about the bright future of his native land, appeals to young people.
In 1925 the Government of the Byelorussian SSR Kupala awarded the honorary title of national poet of Belarus. In 1942 the poet died in Moscow. There are the memorial reserve ”Vyazynka”, ”Levki”, ”Akopy” - in places that were connected with life and work of the poet.