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.