A Sleeping Octopus Changes Colors While Dreaming

while a dolphin likes to keep one part of its brain 
and one eye open. Some sea birds are reputed 
to spend so much time covering large distances, 
that they've developed the ability to sleep 
while flying. A sperm whale holds its breath 
as it naps near the surface, while gangs 
of meerkats like to sleep together, in pelted 
heaps. As time wears on, I find it harder to fall 
asleep especially after a long day at work; 
I come home but my mind's still racing. I envy 
bats and possums who can sleep through nearly 
an entire day, waking only to go hunting; 
or the walrus who, it's said, can sleep and swim 
at the same time. But first I would need to learn 
how to get over my fear of water, though I believe 
it could be one of the most soothing mediums 
in which to float. Recently I saw an ad 
for a float tank in a spa, where you can climb 
into a pod and lie back nearly weightless in salt 
water the depth of a foot. Then, someone gently 
pushes close the lid of the tank so all 
goes dark and external stimulation fades away. 
The only thing you'll hear is the distant 
percussion of your heart and your slow, deep
breathing. I'm tempted to sign up and try it.
Ideally it's a solitary experience, but personally
I like how sea otters have sometimes
been found holding hands while sleeping,
in order to keep from drifting apart.   

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.