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.