NOT VANISHING Chrystos Vancouver, Press Gang Publishers, 1988. 120pp, paper, $930 ISBN 0-88974-015-1. CIP Grades 10 and up/Ages 15 and up Reviewed by donalee Moulton-Barrett. Volume 18 Number 1 1990 January Chrystos is a powerhouse. Her poetry is angry, passionate, gentle and thoughtful. Not Vanishing is a vibrant collection of images and ideas, legend and history that leaves the reader simultaneously exhausted and exhila­rated, defeated and inspired. A native American lesbian, Chrystos knows first hand what it's like to be omitted from a culture. But Chrystos is a fighter and she effectively wages battle in her poetry: They have our bundles split open in museums our dresses shirts at auctions our languages on tape our stories in locked rare book libraries our dances on film The only part of us they can't steal is what we know What is perhaps most amazing - and riveting - about Chrystos' poetry is that she lets us into her world at all. And she does so with an openness and honesty that is in itself pure poetry. If you ever again tell me how strong I am I'll lay down on the ground & moan so you'll see at last my human weakness like your own I'm not strong I'm scraped I'm blessed with life while so many I've known are dead I have work to do dishes to wash a house to clean There is no magic Ahhh, but there is magic - in each and every line of Chrystos' poetry. donalee Moulton-Barrett, Halifax, N.S.