Eddy is 2018 Haiku Master
Patricia Robertell-Hudson and Cordelia Eddy battled to end at the 2018 Haiku Death Match. Photo courtesy Heights Arts.
Heights Arts presented its 2018 Haiku Death Match on April 21 at Ensemble Theatre. The sold-out event featured local and regional poets who participated in a “battle to the death” of 17-syllable word play on assigned topics. The audience voted for the best poems in each paired contest.
Poets Christine Donofrio and Lorraine Cipriano came out swinging with cutting and thoughtful pieces on the themes of “personal relationships” and “politics.”
Azriel Johnson won points from the audience with witty poems on the “the daily grind.” Returning 2017 Haiku Master Raymond McNiece battled mightily against bluntly worded, sharply amusing poems delivered by Bill Schubert in a battle that ultimately went to the former champion. Meanwhile, Michael Ceraolo pushed his way to the top four with his thoughtful and jocular poems.
In the end, though, it was two women who came out on top, with only Patricia Robertell-Hudson and Cordelia Eddy left standing to face each other in the final match to the death. Their keen and pithy poems made for a highly entertaining final battle. No one was disappointed, as the two bandied jabs with some of the best work of the night.
After a final count, Eddy, teen coordinator for Lake Erie Ink, was victorious, receiving the robust adulation of the audience, the cheesy Haiku Master trophy from Cleveland Heights Poet Laureate Damien McClendon, and the title of 2018 Haiku Master.
Programming, such as the Haiku Death Match, as well as the popular Ekphrastacy art-and-poetry evenings in the Heights Arts gallery, are made possible through the generous support of sponsors, donors and members of Heights Arts.
Kristen McDowell
Kristen McDowell is the Heights Arts marketing coordinator.