..,~=*£#@# #@#£*=~,..
...,~=*£#@ @#£*=~,...
....,~=*£# #£*=~,....
.....,~=*£ £*=~,.....
......,~=* *=~,......
.......,~= ................ =~,.......
........,~ 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. =~,.......
........,~ ~,........
........., ,.........
........,~ ~,........
.......,~= =~,.......
......,~=* *=~,......
.....,~=*£ £*=~,.....