Lessons & Libations

In Lessons & Libations, Clarence Barbee delivers a sharp, soulful blend of short stories and poems steeped in honesty, humor, and heartache. From the classroom to the corner bar, these ten pieces dive 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 after graduating. Walk the halls with a weary teacher nursing quiet battles no one sees. Sit in on office banter between two friends just trying to stay human under fluorescent lights. Even the shoes speak—Stacy Adams and Nikes square off about identity, purpose, and which paths we run.

With language that lingers and characters that feel like someone you know (or someone you’ve been), Lessons & Libations is a toast to resilience and a reminder that even in our toughest moments, there’s still beauty—and maybe a good pour—waiting at the end of the day.