THE ALVAR FIELDS             
                          
                                          
 FROM   NORTH  TO   SOUTH,   THIRTY   ODD 
 KILOMETERS.  FROM  WEST  TO  EAST,  FOUR 
 THOUSAND  METERS. FROM TOPSOIL TO STONE, 
 A FOOT OR TWO. NO ROOTS  CAN FESTER,  NO 
             DUST CAN LINGER.             
                                          
 HERE  IS EARTH,  CLAY,  AND  STURDY  LOW 
 PLANTS.  BUSHES  FRAME  THE  STRIP.  THE 
 EARTH IS BARE  IN  PATCHES AS  LARGE  AS 
                YOU AND ME.               
                                          
 CROSS  IT TO GET TO THE OCEAN, OR  DON'T 
          TO STAY WHERE YOU ARE.