
Brian Doyle, author of the work Joyas Volardores, flying jewels, uses vivid detail and key concepts specifically imagery, important words and a variety of literary strategy to guide and prepare the reader for the significant  impact of this enlightening interpretative text. Doyle’s examples unmistakably portray animal-human resemblance. This work's overall message is not visible until the reader contemplates these examples in their entirety. These scenarios draw attention to shape, size, and species which adds to the to the reality of the text. Numerous animals are depicted including humming birds, blue whales, tortoises, fish, insects, worms, and even unicellular bacteria. At final glance we view this text as a warning. We are given one and only one precious gift, life. Doyle intentionally leaves the well known cat metaphor out of his writing because none of his ideas suggest do-over's or nine lives to spare. All animal species including humans fundamentally need connection, intimacy, or community in order to live a fulfilling life.

Animals and humans require a connection with others and a feeling of purpose in their lives. Doyle explains the hummingbird, “Nine times removed from ours, their hearts hammering faster than we could clearly hear if we pressed our elephantine ears to their infinitesimal chests” (94). This allows the reader to actually feel the first comparison between themselves and the animal examples within the work. The reader quickly realizes this uncharacteristic connection of a human that is similar to an animal life. As the reader continues this close anaylaztion of text they see the whole idea of the work associating different human lifestyles with individual species. “A hummingbird’s heart is the size of a pencil eraser. A hummingbird’s heart is a lot of the hummingbird” (94). This example represents the reality of just how fragile and priceless the heart is to all creatures. The heart wholly makes up the hummingbird. Think about the hearts of humans they may not completely take up our bodies size wise, but figuratively this organ is what allows us to be whole, to be who we are by continuously pumping and granting us existence to become our own person. The heart of a certain thing is “a lot” of the certain thing because the heart is what fully makes a person or species live, breathe, think, act and survive no matter what side of the food chain it is on. If we are explicating this example as the hummingbird or the human, the heart is everyone’s entirety. “They can dive at sixty miles an hour. They can fly backwards. They can fly more than five hundred miles without pausing to rest… if they do not soon find that which is sweet, their hearts grow cold, and they cease to be” (95). The capability of the hummingbird is infinite. Humans and animals can complete any task when a challenge is accepted and goals and determination are set. But when these tasks begin to slow down and there is nothing left but a medal, a paycheck, or even a presumptuous title to claim as your own, you will return to a sad home and there will be nothing “sweet” or flowers to fly to. Just like the tired hungry birds we will crash and burn. It is the consequence and inevitability to flying past and through the one life you are given. “Each thunderous wild heart the size of an infant’s fingernail, each mad heart silent, a brilliant music stilled” (95). This signals a mental image of an intense uncontrolled pounding heart exhibiting “the fast” lifestyle, living a checklist life (one thing after another in the quickest way possible), and soaring through the motions without path or pace. We picture that the actual hearts become unimportant in this scenario by the way the author suggests how they become tiny when they put effort towards everything which is equivalent to nothing. This irrational beating heart will fade when “rest” hits and their lifestyle of living for motion not meaning pauses or when they are “starving” for more than just food. The phrase “which is sweet” indicates the importance and necessity of personal relationships that sustain you as a person. This will become a wasted melody of heart and will never be heard IF suppressed by one’s own wrong life choice, so choose wisely. “It’s expensive to fly. You burn out. You fry the machine. You melt the engine. Every creature on earth has approximately two billon heartbeats to spend in a lifetime” (95). If you live in the fast lane you will eventually burn out. It literally and figuratively takes a toll on your health and well-being. The hummingbird with it's incredibly fast heartbeat and pace has a life expectancy of only two years. However by contrast, a slowly tortoise may "live to be two hundred years old" (95). Doyle suggests that by being connected animals and humans thrive and are healthier.

Animals and humans alike need closeness and intimacy to live worthwhile lives. “The biggest heart in the world is inside the blue whale… It’s as big as a room. It is a room, with four chambers. A child could walk around in it, head high, bending only to step through the valves” (95). This indicates the biggest creatures have room size hearts in order to have them walked on. The text states how much is unknown about this mammal specifically, but what is known is that they go through life in pairs and look after one another. Even the enormous blue whale gets lonely and needs love and intimacy. Furthermore, " their piercing, yearning tongue, can be heard underwater for miles and miles" (96). These animals and humans have a strong desire and attraction for relationships. Humans open up the doors to their hearts and to let people in while slowly swimming through life day to day. This allows others to enter their heart homes and to coexist with them while figuring out this life, love, and hurt together. These whales are similar to the tortoise in that both live long lives. 

All creatures need a sense of community and desire to belong. “Unicellular bacteria have no hearts at all; but even they have fluid eternally in motion, washing from one side of the cell to the other, swirling and whirling. No living being is without interior motion. We all churn inside" (96). All life forms are always in action. We want to belong. We all want to be a part of the bigger picture. In order to be a part of a group, friendship, romantic relationship or some other worthwhile activity, one must take risks which involve some degree of pain. Doyle suggests that humans cannot "brick up your heart" (96). It is assumed that in living life fully and deeply we will experience pain and sorrow. The good news is that by living life we will experience true love and joy also.

 Each and every life form including animals and humans need to be active and engaged in order to realize a complete and fulfilling life. They need a connection with others and some purposeful objective or desire. This could come about by involvement in a close relationship. On the other hand, it could be satisfied by some outward social activity, hobby, or commitment to a bigger cause.  Fun fact, Doyle suggests that we are walking and talking hourglasses. What more does he have to do to get our attention to realize the reality of limited existence. We have one chance. We are given one gift of life. We get out of life what we put into it. This is not a dress rehearsal. Form relationships, get involved, love, feel, and get hurt. Make your allotted heart beats meaningful. Our heart walls and barriers will get torn down no matter how many times and how strong we build them. It is inevitable. Take this treasured opportunity to truly live. Do not be afraid to enjoy every heartbeat. You choose the ending of your own story whether it be abrupt or prolonged. The version it becomes is up to you so leave a story of something worth wasting heartbeats over for others to reflect upon, ...good luck flying jewels. 
