the beauty in youth

what you see when you see the beauty in youth, is the beauty of potential future

so a thing “is” beautiful if it will last, survive
and it is “more” beautiful if it will last longer
before its skin withers

so we are the species that evolved to feel attracted toward
those things that are “youngest” on their journey
because our reward is partially measured in utility over time

all of our senses are tuned to detect it
of course it is unconscious (whatever that means)
because it is inbuilt through our evolution

still it doesn’t hurt to divine the presence of such a prejudice
by analytical means
lest we remain unaware
of that which does not directly announce itself

by throwing chalk dust in the dark
we hope to see a shape