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.