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.