Neoteny

In Mexican pools low on iodine
The axolotls can’t become adult –
Mature infants swimming as a result,
With pale pink gills all feathery and fine.
Here we, observant infant species, learn
Something about itself while watching child-
Adults that swim and mate. Here we're beguiled,
In this old youth that we young elders yearn.
We look into these pools, these mirrors clear,
Which show a stage we even now go through,
Young apes who immature to people who
Can then love axolotls we find dear.
In these large salamanders we can see
The deepest source of our humanity.