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.