They said it wouldn’t move So I stopped pushing I put my shoulder into stone Till my breath ran thin Every mark felt honest Didn’t change a thing The mountain didn’t answer Didn’t turn or bend Just stood there Like it always had Someone older watched a while Didn’t raise his voice Pointed where the water curved Said, “You’ve got another choice” I didn’t move the mountain I quit trying to make it crack I turned the river just enough Then I stepped back No sign it would remember No promise it would stay I didn’t move the mountain I let the water have its way At first nothing looked different Same wall, same face You’d have sworn I quit trying If you checked too close The river never hurried Never made a case Just kept showing up Holding its place He said, “Force runs out quick Water never does Stone forgets how strong it is When time keeps coming back” I didn’t move the mountain I let the river set its pace Bent it just enough to matter Left it holding place No witness, no reward No moment I could claim I didn’t move the mountain I let time learn its name It starts so small You doubt it counts Feels like stopping Feels like backing down But every pass Leaves less behind Even stone Runs out of time Years later I came back through Didn’t know the ground Where the rock once held the line There was open space Nobody kept the story Nobody marked the day The river didn’t notice It just wasn’t blocked that way I didn’t move the mountain I never had that kind of pull I just gave the water room And stayed out of its rule No finish line behind me No proof I could defend I didn’t move the mountain I trusted the river bend Stone falls loud But it gives up quiet
