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.