Décima (from Latin decimus, meaning "tenth") is a term primarily known in Spanish and Portuguese cultures for a specific poetic form, a ten-line stanza of octosyllabic verse. While it can generally refer to a tenth part of something, its most significant and widely recognized meaning is within the realm of poetry and folk music.
Poetic Form
The most prevalent and codified form of the décima is the décima espinela, often simply referred to as espinela or décima. It is characterized by:
- Structure: Ten lines (decasyllabic).
- Meter: Octosyllabic (eight syllables per line).
- Rhyme Scheme: A strict ABBAACCDDC. The first four lines form a quatrain, the next two lines link the first and second parts of the stanza, and the final four lines form another quatrain. The fifth line typically rhymes with the second and third, and the sixth line introduces a new rhyme that continues into the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth lines.
Origin and History
The décima espinela was formalized and popularized by the Spanish writer, poet, and musician Vicente Espinel (1550–1624) in the late 16th century, though its elements existed in earlier poetic forms. Espinel refined the structure and rhyme scheme, which was then widely adopted during the Spanish Golden Age. Prominent poets and playwrights such as Lope de Vega, Calderón de la Barca, and Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz extensively used the décima in their works.
Thematic Content
Décimas often develop a single idea or theme throughout the ten lines, presenting a complete thought, argument, or narrative fragment. The structure naturally lends itself to a progression of thought, with the initial lines introducing the subject, the middle lines elaborating, and the final lines providing a conclusion or resolution.
Cultural Significance
The décima espinela holds immense cultural importance in the Spanish-speaking world, particularly in Latin America:
- Classical Literature: It was a staple of classical Spanish poetry and theater, used for a wide range of lyrical, narrative, and dramatic purposes.
- Folk Traditions: Beyond formal literature, the décima has thrived as a vibrant oral tradition and a cornerstone of improvised poetry and folk music. It is fundamental to various forms of repentismo (improvised rhyming) found across the Caribbean, Central, and South America, including:
- Cuba: Guajira and Punto cubano.
- Puerto Rico: Trova.
- Dominican Republic: Música de cuerdas.
- Argentina, Uruguay, Chile: Payada.
- Chile: Canto a lo divino (religious themes) and canto a lo humano (secular themes).
- In these traditions, poets (known as repentistas, payadores, or trovadores) often engage in "duels" or contests, improvising décimas on a given theme.
Other Meanings
In addition to its poetic sense, the word "décima" (or its masculine form, décimo) can have other meanings:
- One-Tenth Part: In a general sense, it can refer to a tenth portion of something.
- Lottery Ticket (Spain): In Spain, a décimo (masculine form) specifically refers to a share of a lottery ticket, typically one-tenth of a full ticket, commonly associated with the Spanish National Lottery and the immensely popular Christmas Lottery (Lotería de Navidad).