The 'This Is a River of My Tears' meme is a hyperbolic reaction image used to express overwhelming sadness, often in a humorous or self-deprecating way. The phrase typically accompanies illustrations or photos of large bodies of water, suggesting that the creator's crying was so intense it formed a literal river. It gained traction on social media platforms like Tumblr and Twitter as a versatile way to react to emotional TV show endings, celebrity breakups, or relatable everyday struggles. The meme's charm lies in its extreme exaggeration, allowing users to lean into their 'main character energy' when expressing even the smallest of heartbreaks.