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.