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.