ELVES LIVE IN THE LAND       
     BEYOND  THE  GREAT DAM.      
   IT WAS BUILT IN THE LATE  SIXTIES.   
     THE ELVES CAME TO US THEN.     
                      
                      
 THEY  WERE  VERY  MANIPULATIVE,  AND  WE 
 CAME TO TRUST THEM.           US 
 KIDS WOULD PLAY  DOWN  AT THE WATER EVEN 
 THOUGH WE  WERE NOT ALLOWED.       
   SOMETIMES  THE  SLUICE  WOULD  CLOSE 
 ENTIRELY,  AND  THE  RIVER  AT  THE DAMS 
 FOOT WOULD  DRY  UP, REVEALING THE ROCKY 
 WATER   GARDEN  THAT  HAD  BEEN   HIDDEN 
 BENEATH, AND  WE WOULD GO THERE.     
       BEFORE THE  DAM OPENED  AGAIN, 
 THERE WOULD BE  A SIGNAL, BUT THE  ELVES 
 WOULD MAKE US NOT HEAR IT,  AND SUDDENLY 
 WE WOULD FIND THE  WATER RISING, ALREADY 
 AT OUR KNEES.                
                      
  BY  THEN  THE ELVES  WOULD  BE GONE.