Duty to community is the common thread that runs through the life of Harry Fagel, from 25 years as a police officer to decades of poetry and volunteer work for local food banks. The Vegas native began reciting poetry at cafe open mics while studying criminal justice at UNLV and later found himself sharing words of amusement and inspiration at morning Metro briefings. He’s now retired from the force, but continues stretching his creativity while doing his part to make Las Vegas a better place.
Helping each other is how we get anywhere. Nobody gets out of here alive and nobody does it alone.
Harry Fagel, Las Vegas Poet
Does your experience as a police officer inspire your poetry?
“ Absolutely. It's been a healing factor for me and for others as well. I've written commission pieces for officers — retirements, anniversaries, that kind of stuff. But more importantly, I've written eulogies for people who have passed away, including officers killed in the line of duty. I wrote a poem for Route 91 Harvest (the music festival mass shooting) and it ended up on a large scroll in calligraphy at the museum in Metro headquarters. But I think I'd still be a poet whether I'd been a police officer or not.”
Your latest book is called “Bellowing at the Volcano.” Is that a reference to the Mirage — and if so, are you a little sad the hotel closed and there’s one less volcano to bellow at?
“ It is somewhat of a Mirage reference. There are fault lines here too. There's a lot of volcanic activity that created this valley we live in. If you remember, only the coolest kid was able to build a volcano for science class. It’s just always been a thing to me. It’s a destructive force that creates life.
“ After I retired, I had a lot of time to process things I'd seen and done over the years. This book is a culmination of my childhood trauma, trauma from the job, and how I've reconciled that through poetry.”
What do police officers and poets have in common?
"Both jobs involve compassion, reason, gauging the temperature of things, and being empathetic. Without empathy, police aren't successful. In my experience, the hardest, most grizzled veteran cops got big hearts. You just gotta know how to get into them.
“The best value of being an artist in this community is the community itself. I've met incredible people trying to make the world a better place through singular acts of art. Helping people get food, helping people get shelter. In the end, we’re only as good as our weakest link.”
You can browse and buy Harry Fagel’s books online at Zeitgeist Press.
