FINE-TUNED FOR LIFE

Ours is the perfect universe, it seems,

for forming atoms that will let suns burn.

Anthropically, there are few other schemes

to give such a magnificent return.

The arbitrary masses we’ve discerned

for subatomic particles create

a balance of the forces, we have learned,

whereby life is allowed to generate.

Change any of the known parameters,

such as electrons’ quantum charge or spin

or nuclear hadron diameters,

and chemistry itself might not begin.

In barren fields of force nothing could grow.

Of course, no one would be around to know.