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.