Prose and verse in Umbral: between the dispersion and the cancionero of Mis paraísos artificiales

Abstract

In contrast with the whole classical tradition that abhors the mixture of prose and verse, Umbral mixes poems (sometimes in verse and sometimes in prose) in his work. Umbral filled his literary path with fragments of poetry showing him to be a genuine poet; these pieces also serve to compensate for his giving up poetry for more productive pursuits and to compose a sort of giant songbook that, significantly, he never wanted to compile. In Mis paraísos artificiales the technique is quantitatively and qualitatively different: to organise a single songbook that alternates prose and verse in the old Renaissance style, although Umbral prefers to tie in with with Juan Ramón Jiménez. This technique is used in Mortal y rosa, to a lesser extent and with other features.