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.