Lonely Birds

The first time drunk, the one with the notepads and pens; who probably mistakes here for a coffee shop. The occasional blonde, a regular, who always has business meetings…

The heartbroken, who nurses that single glass of whiskey. The old couple, they probably own the place, I don’t know. The lovers, can’t keep from blushing, you can tell it’s real but I can’t, I work the bar.

Delving into life perspectives of relate-able individuals who all find their way into a bar and develop familial ties, ‘Lonely Birds‘ written by Laolu Otiko is a collection of short poems that focus on the stages of a teenager’s love life – Demi.

It begins with the thoughts of an observant bartender who like most people hates his job but secretly enjoys the social interactions his customers offer.

The author provides short preambles of the emotions and scenery which give the context in which the poems should be received and doesn’t rely on ambiguity like most poems and its simplicity makes it easy for the average reader to process and understand fully the story being passed across.

The story hinges on Demi’s naivety. She like most young girls believes her current partner is ‘the one’ and tries to convince the people around her but realizes that they do not believe her and are unhappy about it. It deals with how she experiences and copes with the stages of grief but without the heartwarming return to love; from the denial of how her relationship is falling apart as she compares hers with the older couple to accepting that she has to move on to something else;

‘So I’ll take my leave

Came to life with no bag.’

It depicts loneliness, sadness, loss, betrayal, hatred and a vast display of human emotions that proves to be spellbinding with an admirable shortness and clarity.

Another interesting thing the writer explores is the emotions of a young girl experiencing depression and features some poems based on how the other characters perceive things.

The book takes a melancholic tone and describes suicidal tendencies, an imagination of the afterthoughts, how affecting a failed relationship is at that age and how fleeting young love can be.