In a very personal celebration of the opening of Playland Amusement Park for the 2025 season, Westchester County’s Youth Poet Laureate, Harmony Hopwood, composed an original poem just for the occasion. The poem, “Homegrown Wonder,” evokes all the magic and excitement of a visit to the iconic amusement park through the eyes of this New Rochelle student and artist who grew up with Playland in her backyard.
“Homegrown Wonder”
by Harmony Hopwood
Here, in this place,
where we all become children,
engulfed by a wonder
that could swallow us whole.
What an incredible thing,
to be swallowed by this moment.
To wait in lines for the chance to fly.
To graze the sun.
To sit atop the world
Watching all the moments below,
where children smile, high off the joys of entropy.
Where flowers bloom,
under sunlight smothering fears.
Where strangers share laughter and life lived.
Where somewhere,
if you look closely,
two people are falling in love.
On the outskirts of this fantasy
is truth.
In between frivolity and hesitance,
just outside, in the parking lot of our hearts
Fireworks bursting colors across the sky.
As they burn vibrance into the night above,
they will you to return again
to this homegrown wonder.
Hopwood is an honor roll student at New Rochelle High School, currently in her junior year. In her freshman year, she was selected by the Westchester County Youth Bureau as a Youth Poet Laureate of Westchester County, and appointed by the County Executive. At the age of 13, she was the County’s youngest Youth Poet Laureate. Her creative journey continued as she took on the role of President of the New Rochelle High School Poetry Club, where she aims to inspire fellow students to find their voice through the power of words. Harmony’s poetry has earned her recognition as a three-time Gold Medalist in the NAACP ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics), a competition that honors excellence among African-American high school students across various disciplines. Beyond her academic and artistic pursuits, Harmony is deeply rooted in her community and actively serves on the New Rochelle Council on the Arts to promote cultural enrichment in her hometown. She is also a member of the NAACP Youth Council and the Westchester County Youth Board.
In 2019, Westchester County officially established the position of Youth Poet Laureate, under the direction of the Youth Bureau. The Youth Poet Laureate works with the Youth Bureau by creating opportunities that encourage children and youth to engage in a variety of activities including creative writing, spoken word poetry, playwriting and film making. The Youth Poet Laureate collaborates with educational institutions such as schools and colleges, local libraries and after-school programs, and in partnership with the adult Westchester County Poet Laureate.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins said: “Harmony is a County treasure and an inspiration to all. Her beautiful words took Playland’s opening ceremony to the next level. We were so lucky for this opportunity to experience her talent and hear her articulate all the wonderful feelings and memories that we share about Playland.”
Westchester County Youth Bureau Executive Director Ernest McFadden said: “As I listened to Harmony, our Youth Poet Laureate, I truly felt the depth of an old soul and the fire of youth in her words —reminding us that poetry is not just art, but a call to action, reflection and hope. I am pleased that the Youth Bureau has had an instrumental role in establishing and selecting a Youth Poet Laureate, who serves as a voice for young people throughout the County.”
Hopwood said: “Playland was a big part of my childhood so it was easy to tap into those feelings to create ‘Homegrown Wonder.’ I was honored to be a part of its opening which felt like a homecoming for so many. In a world of so much uncertainty and chaos, it is an incredible thing to know we can come together for the sake of joy.”