I am a being with many faces. My first is peaceful and calm, but can kill you. My second is strong enough to smash ships but still fears the sun. My third flies when it's born and runs when it's dead. My fourth goes away and never returns. What am I?

Why this works

This riddle plays on the different states and characteristics of water, cleverly personifying it as a being with many "faces." 1. **First face**: Water in its calm form, such as a lake or pond, is peaceful, but it can be deadly through drowning. 2. **Second face**: Water in the form of waves can be powerful enough to destroy ships, yet it can evaporate under the sun, suggesting its fear of heat. 3. **Third face**: Water as vapor (steam) rises into the air when heated (flies when born) and becomes liquid again (runs) when it cools down or condenses. 4. **Fourth face**: Water in the form of rivers flows away and eventually reaches the ocean, symbolizing how it goes away but doesn't return to the same spot. Each line highlights a unique aspect of water, making the answer not only logical but also a poetic reflection on its versatile nature.