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.