Little Known Fact

So I was sitting here doom scrolling through Instagram. And I came across a quote by bell hooks that said, "no one healed in isolation". I t hit me in such a way that I am still in awe, and as I dictate this message... I realize that’s what I’ve been doing.

Being an isolation is a special kind of drug. It’s a special kind of comfort that is more than mashed potatoes and gravy or turkey on Thanksgiving with fresh veggies from a good haul. Isolation is not necessarily a place that you go, but a place that you end up. It is sometimes the destination that happens when you go into the world. But you don’t have a destination in mind. You just end up going out into the world and experiencing it and the people.

And sometimes you end up getting burned.  

And that’s one of the things that lead to isolation.

And you get comfortable in whatever sickness that it is, that you know, that you understand, that you smell and feel and hear and touch and taste every single moment. 

I wanted to write or dictate this message because, in all the things that I’m doing right now with promoting my book and working and thinking about the jobs that I don’t have; the job that I don’t have, is the one I want the most. The one  that don’t pay any money But it has a title, a purpose and every day duties.

I’m in isolation and if I do not heal in isolation, then I will continue to be.

Happy National Poetry Month 2025

Peace, peace, peace, ladies, and gentlemen this is your host poet 402 and I just wanna send a shout out to all the poets and the writers. Happy April! Happy National Poetry Month! So in honor of 30 for 30 I am

putting down my pen and a little bit of creative energy for this project here. Hope you guys enjoy the video underneath. The poem will be the written out under this post

Just a reminder, ladies and gentlemen, I am still working hard at the new book. If you’re following me on social media, I am putting up some videos about the title release, as well as giving thanks for some of the poets and writers and podcasters who are helping my in this word journey 

Thank you again for the support and remember comments are always welcome

so hey, don’t forget to leave a comment 😅

Morning Breath

Day 6

6th sense

Mark of the beast 

if you say it 

3x’s 

in the mirror

Paper storytellers 

verbal assassins 

creating images which 

add to the collective

call it love

Heart pounding passion

thumping the page 

protruding through 

the to-do list 

so hard,

some say we procrastinate 

too much

because the ache is 

too apparent to be 

silent 

Even the mute 

must express themselves 

through song

Spinning scenarios 

of tall triumphs &

dark damaging realities 

Some of the realest 

remain abandoned 

in back rooms 

fearing the weight 

of success

Several stanzas

slip from overactive 

imagination

onto the page &

out into 

the atmosphere

on a bright &

daring

day 6

Now inhale

deep inside your chest

© 2025 Clarence Barbee

Big News!!

 I’ve been keeping something under wraps for a while, but it’s finally time to share—I’ve been working on a new book!

If you’ve been following my journey, you know that storytelling is at the core of everything I do. From Chicken Soup and A Shot of Jack to Fire Molten & Ash, my writing has always been about capturing real, raw moments with characters who feel like people you know. And this next book? It’s no different. 

This project has been a labor of love—one that blends lessons, struggles, and a touch of the unexpected. I want this book to be a quick but powerful sampler of my writing, something that showcases different sides of my work. Expect a mix of flash fiction, prose, poetry, & stories that hit hard and linger long after the last page.

I’m aiming for an April 20th release, and I can’t wait to share more details in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes insights, and of course THE TITLE RELEASE! If you’ve enjoyed my past work, I promise this one will be worth the wait.

Let’s raise a glass (or a pen) to the next chapter!

Drop a comment or hit me up—what do you hope to see in this book?