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.