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.