,,,,«****@ @****«,,,,
,-«/**&@## ##@&**/«-,
,-«/**&@## ##@&**/«-,
,-«///**&# #&**///«-,
,-«///***& &***///«-,
,-«/****&@ ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, @&****/«-,
,,,,,««**@ 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. &*//«-,,,,
,-«/**&@@# #@@&**/«-,
,-«/**&@## ##@&**/«-,
,-«/**&@## ##@&**/«-,
,-«/**&@@# #@@&**/«-,
,-«/*&@### ###@&*/«-,
,-«/**&@## ##@&**/«-,