Scientists Determine Time Perception Varies Between Animals
Start with a flashing light, electrodes—
and measure how quickly perception
shifts the light solid—
call it timescale: a finer mesh,
a higher thread count—a better lens—
incremental, yes, but also life
and death—a hawk has need
the whale does not.
That pest the housefly can see clearly—
like a movie man dodges
movie bullets—he escapes
swatter, newspaper, curses.
The swordfish boosts blood
to his brain before the hunt,
a calculation of body mass,
metabolism and need.
But my swift and needy heart
is with the tiger beetle
who runs so fast
she has to pause
for her eyes
to catch up.
