When You Get Older: Book Discussion

About the book:

My Brother has lost his daughter. . . at least in proximity

More like she was stolen. They call it custody, a term used for prisoners, but maybe it's all one and the same with these unjust systems we're forced to live with, vindictive mothers we're forced to accept.

When You Get Older is an emotional story told through poems of a bright young uncle and his relationship with his older brother and niece. Due to his parents' absence throughout his life, he's always looked up to his older brother like a father figure— and his niece is more like a little sister to him.

He wouldn't change this family dynamic for anything.

But it's not meant to last, and fate tears their family apart. After a period of separation where he questions himself and life, will he be able to find a way to bring back the family he never had? Or is his niece destined to repeat the same kind of childhood as him?

Comprised of poems men will enjoy, as well as women, this moving story addresses topics such as family drama, questioning God, getting in touch with oneself, and mourning lost time. This is the best fiction written in verse you never knew you needed to read.

About the author:

Gabriel Gaiusbayode is a 24 year old Yoruba Indie author raised in Columbus, OH, with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Dayton where he was President of Black Action Through Unity, and Vice President of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Gamma Theta chapter.

As a child, Gabriel began writing poems as a form of individual expression, inspired by the children’s poetry of Shel Silverstein books. This eventually developed into a form of activism after tragedies with law enforcement began to impact his local neighborhood and this theme defined the content of his spoken word for years to come.

But over the past year, Gabriel has reverted back to his roots of individual expression; performing less and writing more. Focusing his energy on rediscovering and sharpening his inner authentic voice as a poet. Through less mimicry and more introspection.

This necessity is one of the pivotal reasons his debut poetry book, When You Get Older exists which has taught him the power of literary arts and how “some poems are better off read than said”. His love for fiction has also inspired the writing of this book, beginning his author career with a  story he knows. A psychological adventure of an uncle that loses faith in God when he witnesses the tragic effects of his brother losing custody of his daughter.

What differentiates this emotional story from other poetry books is that this is no traditional collection of poems. These poems layer atop one another to tell a cohesive, narrative story that rewards its reader who dive into his story.

About the host:

DREW ANDERSON, a science teacher turned teaching artist, poet turned parodist, and marathon runner turned motivational speaker, is as hard to define as he is to ignore. Known lovingly throughout DC’s performing arts world as “Droopy the Broke Baller”, Drew is founder and co-host of Spit Dat, the longest-running open mic in DC. Recipient of the prestigious DC Arts and Humanities Fellowship presented by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Drew has recently merged his decade-plus of artistic acumen and educational expertise to develop Spoof School, a dynamic arts education integration residency which teaches students of all ages how to make learning fun by “making fun” of their learning.

Watch HERE