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.