Laing is an accomplished poet from Canada, and for two good reasons: because she reflects he emotions beautifully through her art, and because her book is a summary of the best and worse of her life. Practically all her work portrays a strong and exceptional woman. “Prose from Within” echoes all her heart aches and triumphs in verse. Her more ambitious poems borrow their ideas, their satire or sentiment, their form even, from a tortured soul and gloating mother. Laing may not as yet be regarded for her work, as she is still in the entrance of her career. Still struggling to get recognition and give her works final expression as an award-winning poet.

Life

the life of Laing is one to discourage a biographer who does not relish the alternative of either concealing the facts or apologizing for his subject. We shall record here a few personal matters, which may help us to understand Laing’s poetry.

Perhaps the most potent influence in her life was her older brother Leonard. She was born in a small town in Orillia; Laing comes from a large family, being the last of eight. In Canada

Her father was a poor alcoholic, and hard working man, As her Mother took on three jobs to support her large family labored unceasingly to earn a living to help increase a welfare’s income. The children went barefoot in all seasons, almost from the time they could walk they were expected to help with the family housework. Her only fashion was the ones that came from strangers and altered to fit her family’s needs. Laing was moved to Newfoundland at the age of three months as the family farmhouse burnt down. The family moved back to Ontario soon after with help and support from family, Although Laing’s mother took ill when Laing was just a year old and placed into a foster home. Her father felt he was not equipped to care for his large family himself. Laing started writing at the early age of seven and continued to write until she was able to finally publish her first book. As an attempt to escape dire poverty that her own family was facing. At the young age of seventeen Laing had her first child and tem months later had number two, in which was given up for adoption two weeks later. As a year later she was pregnant again forcing her to have an abortion, yet becoming pregnant once again soon after. Being a young mother at 18 she found it extremely difficult having no support from her own family network, she planned to have the (C.A.S.), Children’s aide society come to take her two young children for a while. At the time things got harder as she has neglected to tell the babysitter of this event as he turned the society away? Thinking the children was in the care of the society Laing spent the next few days at friends distraught about her decision. That when she returned home Laing faced her worst fears. The fathers side of the family who turned her down the night she called (C.A.S), now had her children and would not allow her to have them back. Being uneducated and unaware of her parental rights she did not fight, which haunted her for years. This is just a glimpse of what inspired her new work.