Hearts come in a wide variety of sizes. For example, a hummingbird’s heart is about the size of a pencil eraser. In contrast, the heart of a blue whale is big enough to have a small child walk through it with ease. No matter what sizes hearts come in, they are all different in the way that they are built, based on what the animal needs the hearts function to be. For the hummingbird, it needs to be able to keep up with the fast-paced bird which can fly at speeds over fifty miles an hour, and also fly backwards. On the other hand, not all hearts are specifically crafted to be physically strong, some may be emotionally strong. In the short prose poem, “Joyas Voladores”, Brian Doyle uses the motif of the heart to demonstrate the façade of physical and emotional strength that is present in different animals.

Doyle uses the hummingbird to present the façade of physical strength of the heart through its physical structure. Doyle states that the heart of the hummingbird is, “built of thinner, leaner fibers than ours. Their arteries are stiffer and more taut” (95). Doyle’s purpose of mentioning these facts about the physical structure of the hummingbird’s heart is to introduce the reader to the façade of the physical strength of the hummingbird. By mentioning how hummingbirds’ hearts are anatomically superior to other animals, Doyle is insinuating that the heart of a human is anatomically inferior to the heart of a hummingbird. Even though the hummingbird’s heart may make it seem like it is a strong animal, Doyle points out that “they suffer more heart attacks and aneurysms and ruptures than any other living creature” (95). Doyle mentions this piece of data because it directly links to the theme of fragility that he is trying to portray. First, Doyle led the reader to believe that the hummingbird was a strong creature due to the physical makeup of its heart, but then reveals to the reader that the strength of its heart was only a façade, for the hummingbird is a very fragile creature that suffers more heart related deaths than any other animal on the planet. Doyle also reveals to the reader that the hummingbird is an increasingly active bird, pointing out that they fly at speeds over fifty miles an hour, and many other amazing feats of nature. Though the hummingbird can move extremely fast, once it slows down it comes close to dying, which further reveals the theme of fragility in hearts. 

Doyle continues to reveal his theme of fragility to the reader through the heart of the blue whale. Doyle uses blue whales to promote the façade of emotional strength by describing and revealing whales’ caring nature. Like the example of the hummingbird, Doyle points out the apparent physical strength of the blue whale’s heart: “It’s as big as a room. It is a room, with four chambers. A child could walk around it…bending only to step through the valves” (95). Through this example, Doyle is implying that the heart of the blue whale is strong due to its immense size. Often throughout history, and even today, people associate the size of various objects with physical strength, which is what Doyle evokes in this example. Doyle also implies that the heart of the blue whale is large enough to withstand “A child…[walking] around it”, which is also depicting its physical strength (95). Doyle then proceeds to mention that blue whales travel in pairs, but if separated, they try desperately to find their mate. By mentioning this, Doyle once again reveals the façade of the strength of the heart. Yet, in this example, Doyle is trying to state that a heart may appear to be physically strong, but it can be easily damaged emotionally. The emotional sensitivity of the blue whale is revealed when Doyle mentions that the animals must travel in pairs, or else “their piercing yearning tongue, can be heard underwater for miles and miles”, implying that if the blue whale doesn’t travel with its mate/partner, then it will experience emotional distress (96). This directly contrasts the image of strength that is placed upon blue whales solely based on the immense size of the animal. Animals are emotionally weak regardless of their size or apparent physical strength.

Doyle uses humans to present the façade of emotional strength as well by explaining the actions that humans take in order to seem stronger than they actually are. In this example, Doyle begins by describing how humans’ hearts are already bruised and scarred, and that is the reason why humans try to act strong. Doyle presents the human heart as a fragile organ, even before it is bruised or scarred, saying that, “We open windows to each [other] but we live alone in the house of the heart”, which not only proves that humans are somewhat fragile to begin with, but also that their hearts are indefinitely fragile after it is damaged (96). Doyle then states that, “no matter how ferocious the defense and how many bricks you bring to the wall”, the figurative wall that humans try to build around their hearts can easily collapse (96). Humans tend to try to protect themselves from emotional harm by building a figurative wall around themselves and their emotions, yet as time goes on, like Doyle says, the wall that is built can collapse in an instant, which can be caused by many factors like nostalgic memories, things people say, or somber things that occur in everyday life. 

Today, stereotypes placed upon each gender have a major role in the construction of these metaphorical walls. Males, on the one hand, are expected not to show any emotion or else they will be perceived as feminine or manly, but on the other hand, women who show their emotions are celebrated and accepted by society. Males are forced by society to construct a metaphorical wall around their heart in order not to show emotion. This is due to the social construct of masculinity in modern society. The example of the human heart extends the theme of fragility that Doyle portrays throughout the short prose poem. Regardless of what animal is being portrayed, or whether physical or emotional strength is being critiqued, the strength of the heart still continues to be a symbol for both physical and emotional strength both in the prose poem, as well as in society.

In Doyle’s short prose poem, the motif of the heart and its apparent physical strength is critiqued through the examples of the hummingbird, the blue whale, and the human. Though the motif varies slightly from animal to animal, the theme still remains the same. The heart is an organ that originally is perceived as strong and durable, which translates into the assumption of both physical and emotional strength. In today’s society, this assumption of emotional strength is extremely prevalent. Many people appear to be strong and unemotional, when deep down, they are very sensitive and emotionally unstable. Men and women are held to different standards when it comes to displaying their emotions. Men are expected to not show any emotion in fear of appearing feminine, but women are encouraged to show their emotions. As society progresses, there should be a focus on accepting people showing emotion regardless of previous expectations set by society based on gender.
