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.