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.