Our school warmly welcomed Neil Zetter, a local poet, who visited to share his wonderful poetry with us. The pupils were thoroughly engaged as Mr Zetter read and performed his poems with great energy and enthusiasm. He began the assembly by expressing his three wishes: that everyone smiled, that they engaged, and that they applauded if they enjoyed his renditions!
This lively and interactive assembly had all the pupils joining in at just the right moments. We listened to some firm favourites from his books When the Bell Goes and Universal Zoo, as well as poems from his latest collection, Shape of Rainbows.
There was also time for the pupils to ask Mr Zetter questions, which gave us a deeper insight into his work and inspirations. Here are some of the things we learned:
- It takes him about 20 minutes to write a first draft of a poem, but he spends a few days afterwards reviewing and making changes.
- Names of his family, friends, and pets often feature in his poems.
- He draws inspiration from the funny things people say, films, books, and his family.
- He writes in a variety of poetic styles, including pangrams—where every word starts with the same letter—which he explained is different from alliteration.
- He enjoys writing in many different places, but his favourite spot is a café, with a cup of green tea and a delicious sandwich made with really good bread!
Everyone gave Mr Zetter a warm round of applause for his entertaining and skillful poetry performance. We were particularly impressed by the speed and clarity with which he delivered his lines.
At the end of the day, pupils had the opportunity to line up, receive a signed copy of his books, and enjoy a brief chat with him. We all encouraged him to return and share his upcoming poetry collections. It was truly a joy to experience poetry brought to life in our assembly.
