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.