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.