Why Rivers Run
written by: Darci Whitlock
Rivers don’t run because they have to —
They run to be free.
To get away from people who wanted them to be a lake.
The ones who believe running is wrong.
The ones who wanted them to be still.
But sometimes those people are closer than you think.
They’re the reason you stop.
But also the reason you can’t.
The dam is too weak to stop the flood.
Built from childhood innocence and shattered dreams.
When the river floods, it hurts —
It destroys everything close to it — without meaning to.
So sometimes the only thing you can do…
is run.
So you can’t hurt anyone else.
I write poems and stories that explore feelings and experiences even if they aren’t ones I’ve experienced personally.
Latest posts by Darci Whitlock (see all)
- Why Rivers Run - August 16, 2025
