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.