Page 6 - The Clare Connection_Winter 2019 Flipbook

ARTIST PROFILE
Carol Feiser Laque
“Writing poetry is musical,”
Carol says. “It celebrates the
silent music of the mind and the
world of nature. A poem mimes
the chime.”
Clare Poet Carol Feiser Laque Draws
Inspiration from ‘The Silent Music of the Mind’
C lare resident Carol Feiser Laque’s grandmothers opened up the world to
her: the world of domesticity and the world of the arts.
“At 9 years of age, my grandmother sent me, ‘101 Famous Poems,’” she says.
“From that moment, I knew I would be a poet and poetize. My other grams
taught me to make delicious fruit pies (the crust, you know).”
Carol was first published in the 6th grade, which began what would become
a lifetime of 20 volumes of poetry. After success in three small arts presses,
she published her own work to have artistic control of materials, cover art and
layout.
Mainstream publishers required book tours and self-promotion. But Carol
believes poetry should be free. Like Petrarch, she never wanted to merchandise
her mind. Besides, she considers herself a “homebody.”
“Poetry is alive when it honors the individual’s vision and voice,” she says.
“Poetry by committee is as processed as Velveeta.”
Chicago A.M. Let Morning Come
To support her poetry habit, Carol taught comparative literature and the poetry
workshop at the University of Cincinnati for 36 years. Marriage and motherhood
were joys that nurtured and inspired her. And community service provided a
means of sharing the art of poetry with runaway and homeless children. In fact,
she founded and led a workshop at Lighthouse Youth and Family Services in
Cincinnati for 20 years.
In 1975, Carol founded Circumference Press, her own non-profit, independent
press for new poets that recently celebrated 40 years in 2015.
“From chapbooks and anthologies to broadsides, I felt the necessity to operate
outside the system,” she says. “I was unwilling to compromise aesthetic
standards. Every decision involves a price. I have no regrets.”
Projects she founded also include The Cincinnati Writer’s Project – Poetry
Workshop, which was free to all. She led it for 35 years.