La Flor de la Canela (Con Joaquín Sabina)

Song Meaning

These lyrics invite a "limeña" to revisit a cherished memory, painting a vivid picture of a graceful woman, "La flor de la canela." The narrator's plea, "Déjame, que te cuente limeña," sets an intimate, conversational tone. It's a tender recollection of a specific time and place, anchored by the iconic "viejo puente del río y la alameda." The narrator's earnest desire to share this "gloria" suggests a deeper purpose: to awaken the listener from a "sueño que entretiene... Tu pensamiento." This isn't just a recounting; it's an attempt to rekindle a feeling, to make the listener see and feel the beauty that the narrator holds so dear. The memory itself is presented as an "ensueño," something beautiful and perhaps slightly ethereal. The craft truly shines in the description of "La flor de la canela." She is adorned with "jazmines en el pelo / Y rosas en la cara," creating a delicate, fragrant image. Her movement is so captivating that the "vereda que se estremece / Al ritmo de sus caderas," personifying the path itself. She even "recogía la risa de la brisa del río," transforming natural elements into expressions of joy, then spreading them "al viento." Ultimately, these lyrics are effective because they create an iconic figure through rich sensory detail and evocative metaphor. The repeated image of "La flor de la canela" walking with such "lisura" makes her a timeless embodiment of grace and beauty. The narrator's persistent, loving invitation to remember transforms a simple scene into a profound, shared experience of nostalgia and admiration for a specific, cherished vision.