This past Sunday, Saint Louis University English professor Devin Johnston received a pleasant surprise.

His latest poetry collection Sources, published last September by Turtlepoint Press, was selected as a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle 2008 award for Poetry.

SLU Provost Joe Weixlmann said he was pleased to hear about the faculty member’s success.

“Devon is a masterful poet and wonderful teacher and faculty member. This is truly a great honor, this national recognition. It is a real coup for Devon and the University,” he said.

The NBCC is made up of 24 critics from across The United States and several publications including The LA Times, Chicago Tribune and Popular Science.

Each year they nominate five finalists for each category of publication, then announce the winners in March.

Though Johnston is happy to have his work honored, competition is not a normal part of his job.

“It’s a funny thing, I couldn’t be happier, to think reviewers and critics would pick my book but it feels separate from what I do; I don’t [write poetry] to win awards,” said Johnston. The SLU professor said he has no has no ill will toward his fellow finalists.

“Three of four are people whose work I have read and respect, so it feels like good company,” he said.

As of Monday, Johnston had not even told students in his creative writing and literature classes about hisaccomplishment.

“I didn’t know [that he published poetry],” said Ryan Dau, a student in one of Johnston’s creative writing classes.

“He’s really helpful in class. He finds the best in everyone’s poetry; he could be more negative, but he doesn’t use that angle.”

Sources is Johnston’s third book in six years.

When asked why Sources surpassed his other books in terms of critical acknowledgement, Johnston was unassuming.

“I hope I’m always getting better; sometimes you don’t always get better. It’s more important to me to keep moving then to be stronger or better.”

The poetry published in Sources deals with different themes than Johnston’s previous two books, Telepathy and Aversions.

“Sources is not just something you start with, but always come back to,” said Johnston.

“I was trying to go back to things basic, essential, things that were close at hand. I backed off from this intellectual thing, and reflected on things sensory and immediate; weather, birds, states of being like sleeping and weeping.”