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.