In Holden's world of phony and fake,

He struggles with growing up, make no mistake,

His journey through New York, full of strife,

Is a coming-of-age tale, of an adolescent life.

 

A boy on the cusp of adulthood,

But he's not quite ready, he's misunderstood,

He's lost and confused, doesn't know what to do,

And so he wanders, aimlessly in pursuit.

 

He meets lots of people, some kind and some cruel,

And he struggles to find what he knows to be true,

He searches for meaning, for purpose, for hope,

But he's surrounded by people who can't seem to cope.

 

Although he's young, he's wise beyond his years,

He sees the world with a mix of joy and tears,

He longs for connection, for someone to see,

The person he is, and the person he'll be.

 

And in the end, he finds some peace,

His journey ends, his struggles cease,

He's found his place, and he's all grown up,

He's ready for life, he's ready to strut.

 

The Catcher in the Rye, a classic tale,

Of a boy who struggled, whose heart did ail,

But in the end, he found his way,

And so can we, if we choose to stay.