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.