Jacqueline Turner's brief review of A Verse Map of Vancouver does a disservice to a wonderful book [Book reviews, June 18-25]. She has no sensitivity toward poetry, that much is obvious. The poems she claims were "written on the backs of postcards designed to show the good time we're having in this impossibly beautiful place" are all well-crafted homages—both positive and negative—to a vibrant and complex city. The images and book design by Derek von Essen complement without overshadowing the poetry.

This is a book I would give an out-of-town guest; it is a book that should be in the gift bags of all Olympic visitors. It is a refreshing change from the typical tourist book on the city.

> Michael Cox / Vancouver

I must say I'm somewhat confused by Jacqueline Turner's mostly tepid review of A Verse Map of Vancouver. In it, she acknowledges the striking quality of Derek von Essen's photographic work and even praises a few of the poetic voices that contributed to this well-conceived book.

All criticism of the poetry to be found here aside, Turner's resentment seems to be directed at the fact that Verse Map is apparently presented as that most middle class of publications, the coffee-table book—and, as such, represents a definite mainstreamness, a book she cynically feels will be eaten up by "dignitaries" (passing through for the Olympics, perhaps) and those with an extra $45 in their pockets.

It seems to me that all great poetry and photography has at least one thing in common: it exists, among other things, to capture moments in time, no matter how obscured by aesthetic or critical preferences. The voices to be found in Verse Map run the gamut from the "celebratory" to the dark and moody, reflecting the physical beauty and hidden dark realities of our beloved city. Why the apparent accessibility of the poetry to be found here—or anywhere, for that matter—should be a problem I can only attribute to elitist attitudes that irresponsibly relegate art to some ethereal contemplative plane where only the few can appreciate it.

Anyone with a passing interest in Vancouver will be delighted with Verse Map. They might even want to become a poet.

> Patrick Mackenzie, Managing editor, Sub-terrain