When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I looked out my window and smiled.
The glittering sea stretched forever away
Sheltered by the majestic green mountains
Of Croatia
Reaching into the heavens.
The sky pure blue, the stars so clear,
And the darkness at night never tainted.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I’d sit over on by the water
On the dock.
The spray tickled my bare feet as they swung;
The salty air crinkled my nose.
Waves crashed against the stone
And it was peaceful.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I lay on the beach,
The sun’s heat on my back like a hot blanket.
I twirled the smooth stones in my hands,
Eventually placing them among others
In a tower
Looking over the ocean of rocks.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I discovered what tomatoes should taste like.
Sweet, juicy, but not overly so.
Seafood not from there was never adequate
After the fresh calamari and shrimp
We had in Croatia.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I heard a hundred different languages.
Dutch, German, Croatian, Italian;
It filled my head with words
That I might never know.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I wandered the streets of town.
It was like a fantasy, all the little houses
In all different colors
Clumped together, facing the water.
All passageways were the same
Stone paths and plastered walls on either side.
Easy would it be to get lost
But downhill was the water
And the main part of town
Was never far away.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
My family went to the beach at dark
Every night.
Creamy gelato was on the menu.
Over the water was a shimmering path
Of swaying moonlight.
We skipped rocks across the clear water
Trying to be the skipping champion of the day.
Neither the salty air nor the cold rocks underfoot
Bothered us.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
We took a plane going home.
I gazed out the window
Through my tears
At the retreating hills of green and the
Shimmering, glittering sea…
And couldn’t wait until I got back on that plane
Back to the cradled quaint town
And the water so clear
And the stars watching over us all
And the smell of the sea.

When I was young in the tree-covered hills,
I knew
I’d be back.