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.