Duende de mi almohada
Hola, I imagine that some of you know the popular ballad "El hombre que yo amo" by Myriam Hernandez. At one point the lyrics mention the word "duende" (see below)
El hombre que yo amo camina en mi mente, es mi único ídolo entre tanta gente, él hace una fiesta con mi pelo suelto, ladrón de mis sueños duende de mi almohada
Please help me with the last line, especially the word "duende." I have looked up "duende" and found that it means an elf-like creature. It also has a more abstract meaning in relation to dance and art. What is the meaning in the lyrics to the song? I have a good feeling that "elf of my pillow" is not a good translation!
10 Answers
Duende: "In Spain, we look at it as an undefinable something that perhaps a person carries around with him or her."
Very good definition. In Spain, the word "duende" is very used in flamenco. A person who has "duende" knows how to dance and sing flamenco very well.
In that argot, it is something that cannot be learned but the person has by himself/herself.
For example, "esa persona tiene duende", o "el duende del flamenco", "el flamenco tiene duende". It is an special inspiration.
I found this too:
Duende: "In Spain, we look at it as an undefinable something that perhaps a person carries around with him or her."
It's just that there are people who carry with them a certain air that he is born with. You don't learn or develop duende; it's there or it isn't, and most people - realizing it or not - can readily see it."
The poet says "duende de mi almohada" because that person remains in the mind of that woman when she is in bed. He and his dance, I suspect.
It is very poetic.
But, anyway, the word "duende" is also used in other aspects, but they are mainly referred to art although this is not flamenco.
ladrón de mis sueños duende de mi almohada
the guy who is always "flying around like an elf", that is, the guy who is always there with his head on my pillow.
I mean, poetry...jeje, they can say what they wish.
In some senses you might translate it as 'spirit'
dream-stealer, genie on my pillow?
Duende can mean genie 
duende de mi almohada
The charm of my pillow (as in my pillow's lovely.)
The way Duende is used in the song is quite romantic and somewhat common. The same kind of usage is in the Juan Luis Guerra song "Estrellitas y duendes"
"Viviré en tu recuerdo
como un simple aguacero
de estrellitas y duendes
vagaré por tu vientre
mordiendo cada ilusión."
Please check out this article! It's very pertinent and I think will help you with the meaning of this word.
http://hotword.dictionary.com/duende/?utm_source=HP&utm_campaign=Internal&utm_medium=Promo&utm_content=Carousel1&__utma=1.597375989.1296849424.1297884820.1298475536.3&__utmb=1.9.9.1298475665751&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1296849424.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=-&__utmk=112424452
