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.