1 min readOct 6, 2016
Absolutely incredible essay, wonderfully deconstructed here
“Joyas Valadoras” is the name given to the humming bird by the first explorers in the Americas. It means “flying jewels” and the description of the hummingbird–and the hummingbird’s heart–is how Doyle begins this essay. Don’t be fooled by the word “essay” for it is far too poetic to be a mere essay. In fact, the first sentence of this piece gives wise instructions for how the reader should approach the whole piece: “Consider the hummingbird for a long moment.” In other words, don’t rush through this.
Written in 2004 for the American Scholar by Brian Doyle
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We’re meant to experience deeply this life. Deeply.
