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.