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.