Hand is the central image in Bryan Doyle’s poem “Leap.” It is a powerful and evocative symbol of the human relationship to the natural world. The hand represents both the physical and the spiritual connection between humans and nature.
The poem begins with the speaker describing how he used to “leap” for joy as a child, ” Hand outstretched/to grasp at something beyond my reach.” The hand is reaching out for something that is just beyond its grasp, something that is just out of reach. This image represents the human desire to connect with something larger than ourselves. We yearn for a connection to something greater than our individual selves.
The hand is also a symbol of our physical connection to the natural world. The speaker describes how his “hand would touch/the earth, the trees, the sky.” The hand is a tangible link between humans and the natural world. We rely on the natural world for our survival and it sustains us.
The hand is also a symbol of our spiritual connection to nature. The speaker describes how his “hand would feel/the pulse of life, the flow of energy.” The hand represents our ability to feel the life force that runs through all things. We are connected to all living things by this invisible but powerful force.
Since 1999, Brian Doyle has written numerous essays and poems, including Credo, Saints Passionate & Peculiar, and Two Voices. But he is best known for his poem “Leap”, which was published in 2002 in remembrance of the victims of September 11th. In addition to this poem,, Brian has authored ten major books ,including The Grail, The Wet Engine, and the novel Mink River.
Doyle’s poem, “Leap” was published in the Portland Magazine and won the Pushcart Prize. The poem is about a human hand that is reaching out to touch someone or something. The Hand is also trying to hold on to something as it leaps through the air. The relationship between the Hand and what it is touching or holding on to Is very strong. There seems to be a deep connection between them.
In addition to this, Doyle has been a finalist for the Oregon Book Award four times and his essays have been featured in esteemed publications such as The American Scholar, Harpers, and The Atlantic Monthly.
I was expecting the poem, “Leap” by Brian Doyle, to be about leaping in faith. However, I was incorrect. nnI was thinking the poem would deal with taking a figurative “leap of faith” when I read the poem’s title and considered the text book’s section heading, “Faith and Doubt.”
The poem, though it does feature a person taking a physical leap, is about so much more. It is about the strength of relationships between people, and how we as humans need that connection to thrive.
The poem opens with an image of a man, presumably Doyle himself, sitting on a hand. The hand itself is described as being “massive” and “veined” with age. The man is also described as being old, his hair “white as drizzle”. Even from the beginning, then, there is a clear juxtaposition between the youthfulness of the man and the agedness of the hand. This contrast becomes even more pronounced as the poem goes on.
While sitting on the hand, the man reflects on a time when he was younger and “fearless”. He remembers a time when he would have leapt from the hand without a second thought. But now, as an old man, he is much more hesitant. He is afraid of falling and breaking something.
This image of the old man sitting on the hand is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it represents the relationship between the man and the hand. The hand is there to support the man, just as relationships should support us. Secondly, it represents how our relationships change over time. When we are young, we are fearless and take risks without thinking about them. But as we age, we become more cautious and careful. We realize that we are not invincible and that we could get hurt.
This doesn’t mean, however, that we should stop taking risks. The man in the poem eventually does take the leap, despite his fear. And when he does, he is “caught” by the hand. This image is significant because it shows that even though our relationships change over time, they can still be there for us when we need them. They can still support us, even when we are old and afraid.
The poem is based on the action of somebody leaping out into the air, more concretely, those “jumpers” who chose to jump from the Twin Towers to their deaths during 9/11. Doyle uses a lot of imagery to create a stimulating picture of that tragic day in America.
The poem is incredibly sad and moving, and it allows readers to reflect on the strength of relationships, both human and nonhuman.
One striking image that Doyle employs is that of a hand. This hand is representative of the relationship between humans and the rest of the natural world. The poem begins with the image of a hand reaching out, which symbolizes the human need for connection. The poem then goes on to describe how this hand “took hold” of the person jumping, which could be interpreted as either an act of compassion or an act of desperation. Either way, it is clear that there is a strong bond between the jumper and the Hand.
This relationship is further emphasized by the fact that the Hand is described as being “the only thing left / to hold onto”. This line is incredibly powerful and really drives home the idea that humans are desperately clinging to anything they can in order to survive. In this case, the Hand represents hope and possibility, two things that were in short supply on that fateful day.
The poem also contains a number of references to birds, which also serve to underscore the strength of relationships. The first mention of birds comes when Doyle describes how the jumpers “left behind / a shower of papers like confetti”. This image is significant because it shows how even in their final moments, the jumpers were still thinking of others.
In conclusion, the poem “Leap” by Brian Doyle is about the strength of relationships between people, and how we as humans need that connection to thrive. It is a reminder that even though our relationships may change over time, they can still be there for us when we need them.