"On the Edge of the Morning Star": The Subversive Poetics of Contemporary Hungarian Children's Verse

Abstract: This article explores major trends in contemporary Hungarian children's poetry, focusing on three key traditions: "rag-rug" poems, which emphasize rhythm and sensory play; nonsense verse, marked by absurdity and shifting perspectives; and "Swedishstyle" poems, which center the child's voice. Through close readings and theoretical insights from Grace E. Storm, Hans Ulrich Gumbrecht, and others, the analysis examines how these traditions balance sensory experience and intellectual meaning. Highlighting poets such as Sándor Weöres, András Ferenc Kovács, Attila Havasi, and Ottó Kiss, the study shows how their work reshapes poetic expression and reflects evolving views of childhood and language.