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.