A Riddle.

[sechan19]

All dwelling in one house are strange brothers three,
as unlike as any three brothers could be,
yet try as you may to tell brother from brother
you'll find that the trio resemble each other.
The first isn't there, though he'll come beyond doubt.
The second's departed, so he's not about.
The third and the smallest is right on the spot,
and manage without him the others could not.
Yet the third is a factor with which to be reckoned
because the first brother turns into the second.
You cannot stand back and observe number three,
for one of the others is all you will see.
So tell me, my child, are the three of them one?
Or are there but two? Or could there be none?
Just name them, and you will at once realize
that each rules a kingdom of infinite size.
They rule it together and are it as well.
In that, they're alike, so where do they dwell?

~ Michael Ende

Comments

[lordameth.livejournal.com]

Interesting. My first instinct is to think of protons, neutrons, and electrons. Mainly because of the "you cannot stand back and observe number three," which reminds me of Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

But, trying to apply all of the other aspects, it doesn't quite work, and it all falls apart. I really don't have an answer... curious what it is.

[firynze.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I know. But this could apply to multiple answers, I feel. Would've been a good riddle for Bilbo...

[parowa.livejournal.com]

They dwell in the house of time: past, present, and future.

[lordameth.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. That makes sense.

[reteva.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is the answer that I learned (well done!), but I think firynze is right that there are multiple answers and I really like the idea of quantum particles being the answer. Time and space are so interwoven.

[parowa.livejournal.com]

Well, if you count it as a probability, a particle, and an observation, it rather boils down to the same thing.