A Demolition Symphony

Bert Almon is a professor of English at the University of Alberta and
the author of Calling Texas and Earth Prime.

Sonja Skarstedt’s second book of poetry takes us on a tour of Montreal
that is filled with sights and sounds and confusions. Much of the
journey takes place in the underground city, the miles of shopping areas
for which the city is famous. The emphasis on the senses and the
tensions of city life often makes it difficult for theme to emerge from
impression. The poems are, however, refreshingly objective. Skarstedt is
a witness, and what people and places she sees are scrupulously
reported. There are some oddities in Skarstedt’s writing, such as the
abundant use of italicized words for emphasis. More variety in line
length would be a good idea; the interminable succession of very short
lines is useful for noting impressions, but not for building rhythms or
meditating on significance. Cities are in fact a tissue of impressions,
but it is possible to contemplate the perceptions in a more sustained
way. This is a good book by a poet whose work gets steadily more
interesting.