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.