The Goldilocks Paradox
When Just Right Seems All Wrong
To mock free will is to mock love!
It can be made no clearer:
Turn away!—away!—from the mirror
And look inside—beyond—above!
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The Goldilocks Paradox:
We try to find just-right
Through unjust means
And invalidate the end
Where we abdicate the light—
The eternal fight!—
To struggle forth from the dark
And make our own destiny
With our very own hands—
The flint and steel that strike the spark!
Such is our plight—
To live out our days
Making mistakes, mending our ways,
A serpentine path from earth to so(u)l,
A heroic attempt to complete the (w)hole—
Which only the fool would dare
For only a fool would really care…
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—(I am that I am)—
And a fool I shall remain,
Wanting neither relief nor pain
But accepting it all the same,
Knowing that I will—
Beyond the windowsill!
To return eternally and refresh
The stardust-scarred flesh whence I came.
***** * *****
"Like Goldilocks, the development of intelligent life requires that planetary temperatures be "just right'". -Stephen Hawking, The Grand Design
***** * *****
When I penned this poem, I had no idea that the concept of Goldilocks was commonly used to describe the middle way in many scientific disciplines. I admit that this was revealed to me through a quick Wikipedia search. As often happens though, the idea which sparked it for me was similar to its far-reaching cultural significance.
There is a narrow path between death and the devil; between fight and flight; between stagnation and resignation; between proper action in a futile situation and improper action in a situation where the reservation of energy would have been best; between a failed attempt and no attempt; this is the path of the pure Artist, an inner alchemy; a little bit of this, a little bit of that; on the one hand, on the other hand; strike the balance, stir the cauldron, bubble, bubble, toil and trouble, get the fuck out and do it on the double!
To those immersed in the combobulations of daily life, the discombobulations of the artist must seem madness! But something is happening in a place beyond what we directly sense, like ultraviolet light, which nevertheless has an effect which affects.
A child might push down a wall that’s ready to crumble and fall, but it takes a (wo)man with a plan to undermine its integrity in the first place. I have written elsewhere about the pseudoblessings conferred by unseen actors on those who like to believe in their own illusory feeling of power.
Let them! They’ll come in time to understand the true meaning of strength. It’s a quiet song, and a paradox indeed, that leads Goldilocks to her “just right”.
Depending on which version of the old tale we encounter, the bears are charitable, or just confused as Goldilocks beats a retreat.
What did she learn?
More than she would have if she’d failed to survive her flippant disregard for other people’s property. Fate has a funny way of teaching us in spite of our attempts not to learn, or at least so it seems to this old fool…
About the Creator
C. Rommial Butler
C. Rommial Butler is a writer, musician and philosopher from Indianapolis, IN. His works can be found online through multiple streaming services and booksellers.
Comments (18)
congrats top story!
Incredible!! Wisdom and science, fate and purpose...unfolding in apparent chaos, but to God, I'm sure...it all makes perfect sense and His lessons profound. Congratulations on your Top Story!
Congrats on Top Story! :)
Back to say congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Way to put it all into perspective with a creative use of the poem. I really like this from the A/N: -between a failed attempt and no attempt; this is the path of the pure Artist, an inner alchemy;-
Nice Work. I enjoyed your poem very much. Let me know your thoughts on my work, open to constuctive feedback.
I can’t decide which I enjoy more, the poem or the author’s notes. Thought provoking content in both cases. Congratulations on Top Story! 🥳
I've heard that Earth is in the Goldilocks zone but I had no idea why it was called that! Lol, it was something so simple as "just right". Your piece was such an eye opener and I loved your poem! Congratulations on your Top Story! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Congrats! Great job on the poem, and adding your comments after was important here.
Great poem. Great blurb thereafter, Rommi. TS, indeed! Bravo. It's a work that is, dare I say? "just right."
This is fascinating and educational for me. Great writing. Congrats on the TS.
Very good. No, I didn't know about this use of Goldilocks either, but now I do, I feel like I always have.
Congrats on Top Story! Love the philosophical angle!
That opening line is the best thing I’ve read in a long time!!! It’s something I have oh so regularly pondered over - separately. Both love, and freewill. But to suggest there is no true love without freewill / that for true love to exist requires free will… is fascinating… I still strongly conclude that we absolutely do and absolutely do not have freewill…. 😅 Given that love is the only logical way to become… it often has me questioning whether love is just a matter of logic, of pleasure or programming (or all!). Is it a choice at all when one is wise enough to know the other ‘options’ are destructive and result in suffering / disease / death? Do we actually choose anything from freewill?!? I eventually emerged from the rabbit hole to read the rest of your poem and it was really enjoyable! Congrats on Top Story 🌟
Congrats on top story! I love the mention of the philosophical/scientific application of Goldilocks... haven't thought about that before!
Interesting Goldilocks principles and philosophy here. I love the stardust line at the end of this piece!!
I will never look at Goldilocks the same way again.
Wow, I learned a lot from this incredible piece. I feel a bit dumbfounded by my nativity.