"... con su flor en la boca..."

Question

In F. Garcia Lorca's Bodas de sangre, the line in Act I, Scene 1: (spoken by La Madre) ..."Un hombre hermoso, con su flor en la boca, que sale a las viñas o va a sus olivos propios, porque son de él, heredados..." the phrase "con su flor en la boca" sure looks strange to this beginning Spanish student! Is this a figure of speech or should this be translated literally?

Thanks for any advice or coments.

Answer 1

Flor en la boca could mean he has the gift of gab.

Gracias, usarenzo. Your answer makes sense, especially in the larger context here! - tresestados, Mar 1, 2011

We say "He spoke a lot of flowery words" - ray76, Mar 1, 2011

Answer 2

The play if you need previous context...it didn't help me

thanks....I am working from the text of the play in hard copy ... - tresestados, Mar 3, 2011

Answer 3

Surely this is a fairly common archetypal image, the guy with the rose in his teeth?

I think it was first seen in a film in the '20s with Valentino as the star. It's a cliche really but curiously, I can't find much to explain its origin

Here for example is a quote from Leonard Cohens "Famous Blue Raincoat"

Well I see you there with the rose in your teeth One more thin gypsy thief

I thnk it carries an element of arrogance. Is there a Tango association?

Thanks, Birdland. There is no tango association in the context. - tresestados, Mar 3, 2011