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.