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.