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.