Carmesí translates to "crimson," a deep, rich red color. It's a more poetic and less common word than simply "rojo" (red), making it stand out.
In the song, Silvio Rodriguez sings about seeing "una flor carmesí" (a crimson flower). This specific color choice evokes a sense of beauty, passion, and perhaps a touch of mystery, making the image of the flower more vivid and memorable than if he had just said a red flower.
Silvio Rodriguez's "Modo Frigio (Tema Soñado)" feels like a journey through memory and the search for truth. He starts by recalling a "flor carmesí" [crimson flower] and the thought that its "absoluta profunda y rotunda verdad" [absolute profound and resounding truth] would be revealed upon closing. Then, he sings about seeing someone and being immediately "prendado de ti" [smitten with you], describing how "nació en la virtud del amor del amor como buena salud" [it was born in the virtue of love, love like good health]. It's a beautiful image of love as something pure and beneficial.
But then, as in life, a "dolor" [pain] comes along, one that was "mayor que el amor" [greater than love]. This leads him back to questioning what the "absoluta profunda y rotunda verdad" might be. He even mentions a time when "lo adverso era el 1 1 el 2" [the adverse was 1 1 2], suggesting a moment of clarity or perhaps a stark realization. The song then shifts to a more playful, almost nursery-rhyme-like section with "tiki taka tiki taka tiki tate el reloj" [tiki taka tiki taka tiki tate the clock], bringing in the image of a "hombrecito latiendo al compás de su dios" [little man beating to the rhythm of his god]. He's returning to the "cuna de hoy" [cradle of today], still asking about that elusive truth. It's a reflective and slightly melancholic look at love, loss, and the ongoing quest for understanding.