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.