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.