The Question

Summary

Carolyn Hastings' poem "The Question" addresses the impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), emphasizing the importance of awareness and support for those affected, and advocates for asking the critical question regarding alcohol consumption during pregnancy to improve future outcomes.

Abstract

The web content presents a poem titled "The Question" by Carolyn Hastings, which won fifth place in The Lark poetry competition. The poem reflects on the personal impact of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), a condition close to the author's heart. Hastings expresses a deep-seated regret for not asking pregnant mothers about their alcohol consumption earlier, acknowledging the life-altering consequences of FASD. The poem conveys a sense of responsibility to inform and support individuals with FASD, emphasizing that while their struggles are not their fault, they often face challenges without the necessary skills or understanding of their condition. Hastings also laments the unjust incarceration of some individuals with FASD, highlighting the societal ignorance surrounding the disorder. The author's passion for raising FASD awareness is evident, as is the intention to expand the conversation on Medium through a dedicated list of related articles. The piece is accompanied by images from AURELIE LUYLIER's Pixabay collection, chosen to maintain privacy while illustrating the human aspect of the story. Hastings expresses gratitude to Denise Larkin for hosting the poetry competition and providing a platform for poets to share their work, and invites readers to subscribe to her email list and consider Medium membership for full access to her stories and others.

Opinions

The author, Carolyn Hastings, believes it is crucial to ask expectant mothers about their alcohol consumption to prevent FASD and its lifelong effects.
Hastings is passionate about raising awareness for FASD and supports those affected by it, considering it a matter of personal commitment.
The poem suggests that individuals with FASD are undeservedly penalized by society, including unfair incarceration, due to a lack of understanding about the disorder.
Hastings feels a sense of humility and responsibility towards individuals with FASD, viewing them as proof of the need for compassion and societal change.
The author values the importance of celebrating the lives of those with FASD, recognizing their resilience and the unique design and

It can change their future — submitted to The Lark poetry competition — fifth place winner

If I knew then what I know now I would have asked the question That single fact now the reason why passion felt fuels intent Lessons learned become knowledge shared and to that I am beholden They need to know I will make it so and for them I am humbled They are living proof we can’t deny the consequences of our behavior They deserve and rightly so the full extent of our compassion I hope they know they are not alone there are many who are like them My regret is great it is too late for some will never know the causes Their disconnect occurred long before the cord was tied and severed They defied the odds when they were born toxic wombs did not somehow abort them Yet their lot in life while not ideal still has design and purpose I see in them the miracle of life we should all be celebrating Though I do despair for those who find themselves unjustly incarcerated It was not their fault it never was but they’re the ones who live and breathe it They have not the skills nor the wherewithal for they lack insight to their circumstances The question asked can’t reverse what’s past but it can change their future The question posed is not to them but for the one they call birth mother The question is: How much alcohol did I consume when I was pregnant?

Some of you will already know that Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is an area of special interest for me. I hesitate at calling it a passion because how can you be passionate about a condition that causes permanent brain damage to an unborn infant? What I am passionate about is raising awareness for FASD and supporting those who live their lives with or alongside FASD.

It’s not appropriate for me to get on my FASD soapbox now, but what I would like to say is FASD has a very small footprint here in Medium and I would like to see that change. I would like to be part of that change. To that end, I’m building a list of FASD-related articles.

I’ve written this poem in response to Denise Larkin’s invitation to participate in the poetry competition she is hosting at The Lark. She asked us to —

write a poem about something personal to you. It can be anything as long as you are passionate about it.

Denise advised us to accompany our poems with our own photos. In selecting images for this piece, I wanted to draw on the human aspect of my story while at the same time respecting rights to privacy. For that reason, I elected not to use images from my own photo library, but instead, to use the photos Aurélie Luylier Stenman has on her Pixabay site.

Thank you, Denise, for accepting this piece into your publication and for giving Medium poets an incentive to showcase their creativity. 🙏 ✨

Thank you all for being here. 🙏 💕

✨ If you like what you’ve read and would like more —

👉 Subscribe to my email list and be the first to receive my latest Medium story directly to your inbox. 📩 👉 Use my affiliate referral link to become a Medium member for $5 per month and have unlimited access to every Medium story including mine. ✨

Poetry | FASD Awareness

The Question

It can change their future — submitted to The Lark poetry competition — fifth place winner

Poetry Competition at The Lark Publication

The Lark is hosting a poetry competition for the best poem