The copla is a form of poetic expression, used to tell passionate stories, which are sometimes loaded with strong emotional content and where the theme focuses on love and lack of love. In the same way, the copla is used to narrate customs or historical events of a region or locality, using a somewhat humorous and double meaning language, adding a touch of humor to its interpretation.
The verses are generally short, they are composed of four verses of eight syllables each, structured in the form of a romance or tirana quatrain, a round or a Seguidilla. Assonance or consonant rhyme between even verses. The verses can be of different kinds: humorous, patriotic, historical, customs, love, sad, religious, etc. verses. They can be sung or declaimed, accompanied by instruments such as the guitar and the harp.
These poems have their origin in Spain, specifically in Andalusia. Then it moved to the American continent hundreds of years ago, becoming a fundamental part of the following generations. Its most important exponents were: Antonio Machado, Federico García Lorc a, Luis Góngora and Rafael Alberti.
The copla is considered as a composition that is located between the poem and the saying, characterized by its popular condition, being adopted by the peoples as a collective and social production that identifies them. The importance of the copla in Latin American culture lies in the fact that the literature of the new Latin world is based on it; being a primordial attribute of his cultural creation, which is manifested through the songs of the people and their written literature.
Over the years there are many verses that have achieved great popularity, among them are: "La Zarzamora" and the girl of fire composed of Quintero, León and Quiroga. "María de la O" by de León y Valverde
Here is a part of the song "María de la O":
“For my tumbagas hands, For
my capricious coins.
And for my body to wear it embroidered shawls dressed in sea.
The moon that I ask,
The moon that he gives me.
That is why my
countryman has seen more than a sultan has. "
As for the Latin American couplets, one of the best known are those used as lullabies. For example:
"He scared my child, He
scared my sun, He
scared piece,
Of my heart."
