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.