Durand becomes a guitar for us
by GABRIELLE OLIVER
in Spring 2026
Neville Barbour II, “Mawu Lisa,” 2024
Durand becomes a guitar for us
after “Completed | A COLORS SHOW” by Durand Bernarr
he strums his abdomen
with jolted arm movement
releases gainful growl: a belt
formed in his diaphragm
of guitar strings fastened
to lithe body and mouth
amplifier, speaker of mezzo
soprano part becoming whole
ass healing human choir — multi
sectional harmonies included.
electric vocal cords flip
switch between head
and chest voices like a pickup
selector of internalized records,
song/stories so connected
that we already know
at least some of the lyrics.
do you really get the refrain?
there’s no other way for him
to actualize repeat barline
on these notes of our reunion
than to turn them over
and circle them around
in his swaying head.
completed ooooo
and he’s living proof:
perfected, highly sought
after instrument I needed
you will never be stolen
away from me, again
just look at him.
look at
how far
we’ve come
together, again.
Gabrielle Oliver is an associate editor of A Gathering Together: Literary Journal.
