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.