Tebi ranjeni grade

Tebi ranjeni grade ("To You, Wounded City") is a poetry collection in which the author, Jozo Klarić Klajo (born 1968)—a fellow combatant and witness to the Croatian War of Independence—expresses his inner experiences, memories, and reflections regarding the suffering caused by the war, as well as the reconstruction of Croatian cities and the nation. Through both its title and content, the collection pays tribute to the victims, the destroyed homes, and the "hero cities" that endured severe devastation; the verses are sincere, direct, and imbued with a powerful emotional charge. The poems weave together themes of patriotism, faith, Christian hope, and unity, alongside an enduring gratitude toward fellow soldiers who gave their lives for freedom. Klarić does not write from an academic distance, but rather from the personal perspective of a wartime volunteer and a man of faith; he speaks of the scars of war, yet also of the power of forgiveness, spiritual renewal, and the preservation of historical truth. This collection represents an important part of the author’s body of work dedicated to the Croatian War of Independence and the culture of remembrance, serving as a poignant literary monument built upon love for one’s native region, God, and the homeland.