Hands and Hearts
A commentary on “Leap” and “Joyas Voladoras” by Brian Doyle
I personally found both of these writings to be very impactful.
The first talks about the tragedy of 9/11. About the people that jumped from the buildings, the pink mist of what used to be human beings that covered everything. Doyle seems to focus on two people in particular. Two people who no one knew anything about. Two people who may not have even known each other but chose to grab hands and jump together. Or maybe they didn’t choose to grab hands. Maybe it wasn’t a conscious response. Maybe it just happened.
Maybe, it was just two people doing all they could to die as part of something- to not leave this world alone. And that gives Mr. Doyle hope. The fact that, despite everything going on around them- the panic, the chaos, the knowledge that they were about to lose their lives- these people stood together.
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The second writing, about hummingbirds but also the brevity and complexity of life, was also quite beautiful, but less tragically so. The way this was written suggests that it may have been recorded near the end of Brian Doyle’s life. He mentions that we’ve all got about 2 Billion heartbeats to spend in a lifetime, whether we use them up in 2 years or 200.
The writings together are even more impactful than if read apart. Those people that were killed on 9/11 didn’t get all of their 2 Billion beats that most of us feel entitled to. They did not have time to wax poetically on the brevity and fragility of life, because their lives were too brief. Their last moments were terrifying, but they created something beautiful in the tragedy.
Two strangers holding hands.
And with the strength they garnered from each other, they could move forward.
It’s a powerful metaphor for life. I only hope we have the strength to move forward before we meet our ends. Hopefully, we have more years, more chances to stand together. But, it’s best to stand together now.
Because you never know.
