Ran Well Down the Sides

A meditation on flow, emotion, and the beauty of descent

What Does It Mean?

The phrase “ran well down the sides” evokes vivid imagery—of rain on glass, tears on cheeks, rivers carving canyons, or even melted wax trailing a candle. It speaks to motion, release, and the quiet persistence of things that move with gravity’s grace.

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress.” — Margaret Atwood

In Nature

Observe how raindrops race each other down a windowpane, or how mountain streams cascade over mossy rocks. Nature is full of moments where liquids “run well down the sides”—not in chaos, but in harmony with form and force.

Rain running down a window Stream flowing down rocky sides

In Emotion & Art

Artists and writers often use this motif to convey vulnerability or catharsis. Think of tears tracing jawlines, or paint bleeding softly down a canvas. The phrase captures something deeply human—the way feelings don’t stay contained, but spill outward, shaping the world around us.

“Grief, like water, finds its level—and then it runs down the sides of everything you thought was solid.” — Anonymous

A Moment to Reflect

Next time you see something flowing downward—whether it’s coffee swirling in your mug or dew sliding off a leaf—pause. Notice how it moves. That’s the essence of “ran well down the sides”: an ordinary miracle of motion and surrender.