Happy Holidays!!!! I recieved over double my normal submissions this contest, and with that in mind, and the holidays, I've picked 5 winners this time. I was unable to narrow it down to three and all 5 are so well written I had to add them in. Firth and fourth place were both so close in my opinion that I went off of the style I felt was easier for me to enjoy.

With the guideline in mind, I made sure each winner had stayed inside the rules. As I didn't specify to plural words, and variations of each word, I let it go as I wasn't clear about it. Others, who did use the original word(s) multiple times, I did not.

First Place: 15 votes, 6 comments, a follow, and they get to choose the next topic.

Second Place: 10 votes, 4 comments.

Third Place: 7 votes, 2 comments.

Fourth and Fifth Place: 3 votes and 1 comment each.

Results:

Fifth Place: SparklingGarbage8

"It's odd to think about now, how long ago that was.

I don't know why you tolerated me..."

             I loved the questioning in the poem, how there was some innocence in it yet the person was filled with anger. It was a great mix of emotions.

Fourth Place: renaeloveswriting

"I hope you are happy now

Living the life you deserve"

             The best part about this poem was the simplicity of it. There wasn't much though to it, which sometimes isn't good in poetry, yet this time it was.

Third Place: Firebreathersharvari

" I was foolish to believe you loved me,

But now it's funny how

Our love transformed into hate,

And dear, our eyes will never meet again."

           I absolutely loved this poem's story. It flowed so well together and the figurative language was great.

Second Place: SmallBobInc

" In the day,

 it's show and tell;

silence filled with chatter,

 stomachs swollen with laughter.

In the dark,

 it's kiss and tell;

you ask what's the matter,

 but your voice comes out flatter."

           Great piece, as always. I loved this poem's similar repetition in the first two stanzas, almost like an painting a path to the poem yet to be read. 

First Place: kellyeleisha12

With her poem titled Tainted, I loved the story it held within the writing. Now, one of my favorite poems, it shows how there is still hope waiting even in the end. It reminds me of a perspective I like to write in,  talking about the world through your own eyes, and questioning it. It is outside the box on this topic, speaking not about a person once loved, but the world.

I used to look

 At the world

With rose-tinted glasses.

To me,

Everything was beautiful

And innocent, pure

How could anything

Be evil?

But the same world

 I admired

With eyes open wide

In awe

Was very cruel.

It splattered blood

And sprayed black paint

Onto my twisted lenses

And the beautiful

Sunset shade of pink

Was covered with

Such horror.

I never saw anything

The same way again.

But I still haven't lost hope.

I continue

Trying my best

To look out these tainted glasses

Hoping that maybe

I'll find someone

Who's willing

To clean the lenses.

Thanks so much to all who submitted poems!! Winners please PM (or comment) which book(s) you would like comments and votes on!!! I am going to be busy over the next few days so if I do not get a new contest out this week... Happy New Year! :))