Alyssa D’Amico was born and raised in Queens, New York City. At the age of 6, she was diagnosed with epilepsy and started writing poetry soon after. Her work has been published by Albany Poets in Up the River, New York University F.A.C.E.S., the National Epilepsy Foundation, and the Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York. She has been a featured poet at the Queens NYC Lit Festival with Inspired Word in 2016, 2017 and was a featured poet with Inspired Word 2018. Alyssa’s goal is to help people with neurological disorders, including epilepsy, to believe in themselves. She would also like to make people who are not familiar with epilepsy more aware.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a part of me
You can take it or leave it
Because it may not go away
As a matter of fact
It may be here to stay
Am I ok? Yes I am!
Standing up straight
Facing the reality of life
Accepting every part, and possibility for it
Continuing to carry on
Have fun, enjoy myself, do favorite things
Try to make sure there is a smile on my face
But emotions fluctuate
Not every day is perfect
Life is like a ride going up, and down
Researching the condition reminding myself
What the chemistry is
When a seizure happens
Stay strong
There is nothing wrong
Back to normal
Whatever that means
Let me continue with what I am going to do
Epilepsy is a part of me
Which makes me unique
In a different way
Keep my head up
And never give up
Cause winners never quit
Quitters never win
And I chose to be a winner
Different Girl
I am a different girl
From a different world
A different race
With a different face
From another dimension
I am dealing with a different case
I am an unknown species
Unique in many ways
Have an imagination that runs wild
Am able to fly
Because dreams are coming true
I glow in the dark
I Am filled with ultimate powers
And have a real heart
Don’t have much to say or do
Some people of the world are prejudice against me
Because they don’t understand what they see
I am a different girl
From a different world
