In Lessons & Libations, Clarence Barbee brings his sharp, soulful storytelling to life through voice—delivering a rich blend of short stories and poems steeped in honesty, humor, and heartache. From the classroom to the corner bar, these seven pieces come alive in sound, inviting listeners into the spaces where people show up raw—learning, healing, grieving, laughing, and sipping through it all.
Meet Nia, a recent college grad finding her voice in the real world. Sit on a barstool with a weary teacher carrying quiet battles no one sees. Listen in on office banter between two friends just trying to stay human under fluorescent lights. Even the shoes speak—Stacy Adams and Nikes trade words about identity, purpose, and the paths we run.
With language that lingers and performances that feel intimate and true, Lessons & Libations (The Audiobook) is a toast to resilience—and a reminder that even in our toughest moments, there’s still beauty, rhythm, and maybe a good pour waiting at the end of the day.
Clarence Barbee has been writing and performing poetry for over a decade. He has produced 9 spoken word albums, under the pseudonyms Nabraska and Poet402. Clarence is now working on self-publishing books of essays and short stories.
In his professional life he has worked with, educated, and supported many children. Clarence believes in keeping an eye on political planes and social occurrences such as changes in world leadership, and social inequalities. These actions of men are a huge curiosity to the author; he believes in writing about them, and discussing them, so solutions can be made.
Clarence has taken these experiences and written about them extensively. He asks, “who doesn’t want to be happy,” then goes about the business of finding the answer. Please take some time to join him on this journey as they are set through words, sometimes with music, and always taken with a grain of salt.