.....~~*%$ $%*~~.....
....~~*%$¶ ¶$%*~~....
...~~*%$¶# #¶$%*~~...
..~~*%$¶## ##¶$%*~~..
.~~*%$¶### ###¶$%*~~.
..~~*%$¶## ................ ##¶$%*~~..
...~~*%$¶# 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. ##¶$%*~~..
...~~*%$¶# #¶$%*~~...
....~~*%$¶ ¶$%*~~....
.....~~*%$ $%*~~.....
......~~*% %*~~......
.......~~* *~~.......
........~~ ~~........