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.