....=:%¤#¶ ¶#¤%:=....
.....=:%¤# #¤%:=.....
......=:%¤ ¤%:=......
.......=:% %:=.......
........=: :=........
.......=:% ................ %:=.......
......=:%¤ 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. #¶#¤%:=...
..=:%¤#¶## ##¶#¤%:=..
...=:%¤#¶# #¶#¤%:=...
....=:%¤#¶ ¶#¤%:=....
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......=:%¤ ¤%:=......
.......=:% %:=.......