Yellowing Memories, III
written for World Book Day
a photo slips
from The Catcher in the Rye
17-year-old me
not afraid of anyone
except myself
FYI: In J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," teenagehood is depicted as a period of intense emotional turmoil, alienation, and a search for authenticity amidst a perceived "phony" adult world. Holden Caulfield, the protagonist, struggles with depression, loneliness, and a strong desire to protect the innocence of children, viewing the adult world as a corrupting influence.
And this tanka could be read as a sequel to mine below:
light in the eyes
of this familiar stranger
a photo
of seventeen-year-old me
reading The Outsider
Shot Glass Journal, 43, 2024
