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.