ASU Professor Poetry Contest

An Angelo State professor has won first prize in a poetry contest from Jewish Currents magazine.

The poem from Chris Ellery has won the second annual Alexander and Dora Raynes Poetry Competition.

Ellery's poem "Shekinah" has emerged as the best of 700 poems nationwide.  The poem illustrates the friendship of two boys -- an Arab and a Jew -- in Bethlehem right before the partition of Palestine.

Poet and playwright Joan Larkin has judged the contest, saying Ellery's poem "explores family and brotherhood simply and beautifully."

The works of all 40 finalists make up a new poetry collection that the magazine's book imprint publishes next month.