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.