Alumna and Parent of Graduate Shares Poetry on Veterans Day

11/15/2019

It came as a surprise to Pamela Hart Rago ’71, P’04 when her son Will ’04 decided to enlist in the United States Army at the age of 23.

This life-altering moment eventually inspired Rago to write poetry about the military family experience, and on Monday, November 11, Rago visited Masters to share her work with upper school students.

During her Veterans Day visit to her alma mater, Rago attended two classes; met with Outspoken, the Upper School’s spoken word poetry club; and shared a selection of pieces from her award-winning debut poetry collection, “Mothers Over Nangarhar,” during Morning Meeting.

“Veterans Day is a poignant day because I do think, not only about my son, but about other family members who have served,” Rago said, reflecting on what the day means to her personally. She noted her gratitude that her son returned safely from Afghanistan while acknowledging that “Others haven’t been so lucky.”

She hopes that her visit with students inspired them to think about the meaning of various kinds of service and to consider “how poetry can address large historical and social concerns, as well as smaller personal moments.”

One of the highlights of the day for Rago was having lunch with Outspoken: “I loved sitting around the table with all the young writers, listening to them talk about writing, what they read and how the group comes together for its presentations.” Rago was complimentary of all the students she met with, noting that they were attentive and participated in the discussions. Coming back to campus may have felt a bit surreal for her, but Rago summed up her visit on such an important day as: “Wonderful!”