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In My Dreams

Poetry

By: Ashley Tiara Lilly

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In My Dreams

Poetry

By: Ashley Tiara Lilly

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In My Dreams

Poetry

Copyright © 2016 by Ashley Tiara Lilly

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any

form or by any means without the prior permission in writing by the publisher, nor be otherwise

circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

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Other Books By This Author

Young Heart: Love Poems and Illustrations

A Beautiful Journey: Book 1

Little Red Bird: A Beautiful Journey: Book 2

Candy-Coated Dreams: A Beautiful Journey, Book 3

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For my family and friends

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Table of Contents

Chapter One .................................................................................................................................. 7

Soaking In The Sun ......................................................................................................................... 8

Penguins .......................................................................................................................................... 9

Blue Sky ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Snowman ...................................................................................................................................... 11

Elephants ....................................................................................................................................... 12

Chapter Two ................................................................................................................................ 13

Blanket, Tea, And Books .............................................................................................................. 14

In My Dreams ............................................................................................................................... 15

Aspire For Greatness .................................................................................................................... 16

The People Make The Place ......................................................................................................... 17

Mask .............................................................................................................................................. 18

Chapter Three ............................................................................................................................. 19

Parties ............................................................................................................................................ 20

White Walls .................................................................................................................................. 21

Baked Goods ................................................................................................................................. 22

Diamonds ...................................................................................................................................... 23

Mini Library .................................................................................................................................. 24

Chapter Four ............................................................................................................................... 25

The Power Of Friendship .............................................................................................................. 26

Maps and Telescopes .................................................................................................................... 27

Have Faith ..................................................................................................................................... 28

I’m Not Always Hopeful .............................................................................................................. 29

Full Circle ..................................................................................................................................... 30

Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................... 31

About the Author .......................................................................................................................... 32

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Chapter One

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Soaking In The Sun

The world never runs out of bad news

Bullets fly through the air

And hearts stop beating

Haven’t you heard that life isn’t fair?

And the people who live for kindness

Get swept under the radar

Strangers bring hot food to the homeless

But these stories never go far

When I hear the news, I block it out

And it’s not that I don’t give a damn

But I know we can’t change without being uplifted

If the whole world feels like a traffic jam

Like we’re stuck

As if we can never make the world better

That’s why I’m soaking in the sun

And embracing the beautiful weather

Because somewhere, somehow

The sun is always shining

Whether it’s in acts of love

Or in the heart of someone who’s crying

Tears of joy

Do we forget that those exist?

We have to acknowledge what’s wrong with the world

But let’s not forget the moments of bliss.

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Penguins

They say that when penguins find their one true love

They stay with that love forever

Maybe it’s because they propose with a pebble

With affection that’s authentic and humble

It’s nice to think that we live in a world

Where we can all find our penguin

Because when love is true, it lasts and lasts

And it makes our broken lives beautiful.

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Blue Sky

I taste freedom in the blue, blue sky

Do you want to fly with me?

Together we can see the world from new heights

Together, we can be free

Have you ever wondered what it’s like

To soar above the clouds?

I bet there’s a hidden kingdom up there

That’s as amazing as it sounds

Tell me, have you kept your mind

And your sense of imagination?

Or have you lost those things to the world

A most draining and sad sensation

Come with me, let’s get it back

Let’s do impossible things

Keep your heart and your hope alive

Because that is what gives you wings.

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Snowman

Hey there, Mr. Snowman

You must be the best kind of friend

You’re made of pure snowflakes

So I know you can’t lie

Your scarf is so warm

And you have friendly eyes

Your nose is a carrot

And you wear a kind smile

I know our friendship

Will last quite a while

It’s a shame, Mr. Snowman

That you’ll melt in the spring

But I’ll enjoy the time we have

And all the fun that you bring.

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Elephants

There’s a lot we can learn from the elephants

They are strong, yet they are gentle

They have good memories

But the past does not keep them

From living in the moment

Above all, their sense of community

Is significant and strong

They are always there for each other

They look out for their herd

And leave no one behind

They are beautiful creatures

And some even paint

They know how to have fun

And make life seem great

Their tusks and their trunks

Their ears and their strength

Are often used in such peaceful ways

Some have bonded with humans

Forming close connections

In spite of all the poachers

Who have taken their friends

Yes, we can learn a lot from the elephants

Amazing creatures, they are

Making the world a more interesting place

Just by living life

And being themselves.

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Chapter Two

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Blanket, Tea, And Books

Nothing is more relaxing

Than a blanket, tea, and books

They make you feel warm, like your being hugged

They melt all of your troubles away

And the best blanket of all

Is one made with love

Stitched with care by a special hand

That chose soothing colors of yarn

For some, tea is an art

It must be made just right

With carefully chosen tea leaves

And just the right amount of honey

And books, they are an adventure

They are a journey in your hands

They bring you to new places

They introduce you to new friends

A blanket, tea, and books

Can always be shared

So that you can relax with someone you love

And that is the very best part.

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In My Dreams

In my dreams

I see your face

I hold your hand

I hear your voice

And I am happier

Than when I am awake

For in my dreams

I can tell you

Just how dear you are to me

I can lie beside you

And my heart will have no walls

And you can be yourself

And I can be myself

And together

We can block out the world

I love to see you in real life

Where your presence

Is sweeter than honey

But I savor your presence in my dreams

Where I can tell you everything

Without using words.

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Aspire For Greatness

Aspire for greatness

Reach for your dreams

Don’t let anyone tell you

That what you want

Is impossible

Because dreams only ever feel real

To the dreamer

No one can understand your vision

The way you can

You are not a cookie cutter

Version of creation

You are a unique, individual

Human

With your own gifts

And your own abilities

And your own talents

And your own dreams

Hold those things tightly

Don’t let them go

There will always be people

Who have doubts

You must simply be the one

To believe.

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The People Make The Place

Places can be defined

By beautiful sights

By mouthwatering smells

By soft, fluffy beds

But nothing determines

The loveliness of a place

More than the quality

Of its people

A friendly greeting

An accepting heart

Makes all the difference

When you enter a new world

When you are asked to be at home

In a home that isn’t yours

It fills your heart with warmth

To know that you are loved

Of all the places I’ve been

And all things I’ve pursued

Nothing has been more valuable

Than the friends I’ve made along the way

They have made every trial worth while

They’ve made every dark day bright

They’re the reason I smile

They are gifts from above

It’s not about where you go

In this life

It’s about who you travel with

That very thing

Is what makes all the difference.

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Mask

I refuse to wear a mask

And you shouldn’t either

Let me see your true self

Let me know who you are

Your flaws are beautiful

And so are your scars

Let me kiss your imperfections

Let me wipe away your tears

And you can do the same for me

So that what we share

Can be true

Do not hide from me

And I shall not hide from you.

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Chapter Three

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Parties

Life should never be short of parties

It should never lack reasons to celebrate

Let us be glad that we got out of bed

That we were brave enough to face another day

Where would I be without you?

Let’s gather to celebrate friends

Let’s celebrate the fact that we have each other

Now, and until the end

Let’s play our favorite songs

And dance all through the night

Let’s eat good food

And take pictures and smile

Let us wish upon the stars

Let’s have a party

So that we can make memories

And our joy can last a lifetime.

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White Walls

There’s nothing I love more

Than a room

With four, white walls

Do you know why?

A room like this

Is filled with possibilities

We can paint it a lovely shade

Of green or blue

We can hang paintings

Of Van Gogh

Da Vinci

And Rembrandt

We can hang photographs

Of the people we love

And quotes that inspire us

To live happier lives

We can make anyone who enters the room

Feel welcome

We can make the space our own

Yes, there’s nothing I love more

Than a room

With four, white walls

It is a blank canvas

For the imaginative mind.

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Baked Goods

Don’t you just love baked goods?

They make people so happy

They fill a house with warmth

It’s like sharing love

On a plate

Food has a way of bringing people together

A shared meal

Gives us hope

That connections have not been lost

To computers

And screens

And the game of looking impressive

To people who barely know you

Freshly baked goods

Cannot be replaced

By emails

And text messages

And Facebook posts

They require real people

To invest real time

And real love

And real thought

And real care

Into creating something lovely

To share

With the people

They care most

About.

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Diamonds

They say that diamonds

Are a girl’s best friend

But I don’t want diamonds

As much as I want love

I want someone

Who understands me

Deep down

Someone who is content

To share the silence with me

Someone who will laugh with me

And cry with me

And listen

To my heartbeat

In the silence

Of the night

I want a warm hand

To hold mine

And I want kisses on the cheek

For no real reason

And I want someone

To read with me

And to write me

Handwritten letters

I want walks on the beach

And for someone

To look up at the stars with me

After the sun sets

Diamonds are good

But affection is better

Understanding is priceless

And true, genuine love

Amidst truth and flaws and complexities

Is the most valuable thing

Of them all.

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Mini Library

One thing I must always have in my house

Is a mini library

Because books are the key to knowledge

They are portals to new worlds

I haven’t even dreamed of

They are mirrors to society

They are our only utopias

In their gentle pages

They keep all of our secrets

We connect to stories

The way we connect

To the air we breathe

Perhaps that’s why we connect to people

Because they all carry stories in their hearts

Sometimes those stories are poured into books

And make their way to my mini library.

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Chapter Four

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The Power Of Friendship

Don’t doubt the power of friendship

It can heal your oldest wounds

It can make you find your smile

Even if it hides in the dark

For so long

That you forget

How to use it

Friendship can make you see

Your reason for existence

Because you are able to love another

And receive love in return

You are reminded of the meaning of life

Hold on to your friends

And keep a kind heart

And remember, above all

To be a friend to yourself.

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Maps and Telescopes

There’s something so romanticized

About maps and telescopes

They are symbols of adventure

They go with the ocean blue

And boats built by hand

With a crew

And with a captain

All tasting the treasure

Of the adventure

That lies ahead

But you don’t need a map

Or a telescope

To live the adventure

That you’ve dreamed of

You simply must believe

That you are a ship, destined to set sail.

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Have Faith

Have faith

Even when the nights are long

Even when the tide is strong

And your heart can’t find its song

Have faith

Even when you’re in the dark

And there is not a spark

Of hope where fear has left its mark

Have faith

Even when your dreams are far

And your past has left a scar

And the stories you hear are black as tar

Have faith

Because the sun will shine once more

For good things are in store

And you will emerge stronger than you ever were before

So have faith,

My child

Because your heart is wild

And I long to see you smile

Yes, I long to see your smile

Last for more than just a while.

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I’m Not Always Hopeful

I’m not always hopeful

But hopeful is

My favorite way to be

So when life gets dark

I turn up the music

And when life get loud

I find silence in my mind

I escape with pen and paper

I disappear into the worlds

Of my imagination

Because hope is too valuable

To let go of

And we can’t let a few bad things in

This temporary life

Do away with something

That is as eternal and everlasting

As hope

It gets us through the hard times

Every time

It helps our hearts to see a purpose

When our eyes see only fog

And when you can’t find hope within yourself

Remember the stars

Remember every song you’ve ever heard

Because whoever wrote that song

Might have been going through hard times

But they created a song

With the hope

That maybe

The things they do

Actually matter

And life is a story

That has been lived

By millions of people

Just like you

And if they can do it

Then you can too

Just let the hope of everyone who has ever lived

Fill you up

And help you to make it through.

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Full Circle

I believe that everything in life

Comes full circle

I believe that those

Who delight in hurting others

Who think they are tough

Because they carry metal in their pockets

Will get their reward in full

Because what goes around, comes around

And as we become sad

Over those who make this world dimmer

Who take hopeful hearts

And deflate them like balloons

Let us not forget those who do good

Those who make the world a better place

By lending a helping hand

People of all ages

Of all backgrounds

And all cultures

Come together

To help their fellow

Men, women, and children

These are the people who understand

That love, life, and hope

Matter

These are the people

Who inspire kindness

And help the world to change for the better

Bit by bit

And I believe

That everything comes full circle

That those who do good

Will be blessed in return

That those who give love

Will receive love in return

Let’s remember to celebrate

Our ability to love

Because it is

The greatest

Ability

We have.

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Acknowledgements

As always, I would like to thank everyone who reads and supports my work. I hope that you

always find joy in the little things and that your dreams always inspire you.

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About the Author

Ashley Tiara Lilly has been writing poetry for many years. She previously self-published a series

of poetry books titled A Beautiful Journey and another book called Young Heart. She has a

bachelor’s degree in English and loves connecting with other writers. In her spare time, she

enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music and binge-watching Netflix. She lives in

New York.