Vital to Victory by Amanda Laughtland

                Glad Amanda knows what is vital to victory. We need her more than ever. Right now we are in some serious trouble. Her plan, enclosed in this small chapbook, I’m certain will be crucial to helping the United States regain its stature in the world. Or, at the very least, it may prove to be a much needed distraction from all those things we’re not doing so hot in right now. Either way, we win.

                NAP Magazine put out this little wonder. Amanda comes with great recommendations. The poems in this collection have previously been published in some prestigious online literary magazines, most notably elimae. Elimae is high respected for reasons I don’t have the time to get into, but suffice it to say if you’re a young, starving poet and want to most assuredly receive rejection, send your work there. In the rare case you are accepted you’ll know the ultimate feeling of satisfaction Amanda Laughtland experiences each and every day of her totally awesome life. 

                What is “Vital to Victory” about? It discusses in extreme detail the importance of defeating the evil Axis powers. Really, they need to get the snot beaten out of them. Who is vital to the victory? None other than our brave men and women, working on the home front to thwart our foe! That means plenty of rationing. Little Jimmy how about instead of getting a new toy you go out back and play with clumps of dirt! By giving up your metal toy that metal can be used in making bullets to disembowel enemy soldiers? Doesn’t that sound better than using your imagination? It sure does. 

                The focus of “Vital to Victory” is the women working on the home front. Amanda describes in painstakingly accurate detail of all the slogans (re-modified or not) and motivational saying that helped the great old US of A defeat the big bad guys on either side. We did it thanks to the efforts of rationing in our great nation. 

                It’s a sweet chapbook. The tone is gentle, kind, caring, and considerate. Much of it is beautiful, the way the words come together to form little scenes, images and moods. None of this should be surprising. Amanda works on her own teeny tiny publication out in the Pacific Northwest, where I’ve heard people retire early. That may be Portland only, not sure if the rule applies to Seattle as well. Besides working on writing, Amanda also does collages and photography. You could go here to check that out. Or go here to actually read the entire chapbook. 

                Amanda Laughtland is vital to America’s victory.