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.