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.