This study aims to offer a global overview of the poems of Pere Gimferrer’s Arde el mar while pointing out some common elements lying beneath their verses. Having been awarded the Spanish National Poetry Prize in 1966, Arde el mar is considered one of the most remarkable poetical works of his generation. A detailed examination of Arde el mar reveals the presence of two fundamental elements in most of its poems. On the one hand, the use of cultural elements such as the names of writers, literary works, philosophers, historical figures, geographical places, mythological characters, etc. These cultural references are key elements for the correct understanding of these poems, which implies that readers should be well equipped with a broad range of knowledge. On the other hand, we can see a constant inner reflection in which the past and the present merge letting the poet’s consciousness flow freely. Both elements, the abundant employment of cultural references and free stream of consciousness, usually take place simultaneously on the same plane, which has the effect of sublimating personal experiences. That is to say, personal experiences are raised to the category of historical facts or public events, as they are placed on the same plane as historical deeds, literary fiction and legendary characters. In this way, Gimferrer succeeds in creating a kind of personal myths in his verses innovating mid-twentieth century Spanish poetry, which had been long dominated by the realistic style of the “poesia social”.