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.