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.