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.