,,,.=†$*&@                                          @&*$†=.,,,
,,,,.=†$*&                                          &*$†=.,,,,
,,,,,.=†$*                                          *$†=.,,,,,
,,,,.=†$*&                                          &*$†=.,,,,
,,,.=†$*&@                                          @&*$†=.,,,
,,.=†$*&@#             ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,             #@&*$†=.,,
,.=†$*&@##             the alvar fields             ##@&*$†=.,
,,.=†$*&@#             ***#@#@#@#@#@***             #@&*$†=.,,
,,,.=†$*&@                                          @&*$†=.,,,
,,,,.=†$*& from   north   to   south,   thirty  odd &*$†=.,,,,
,,,,,.=†$* kilometers.  from  west  to  east,  four *$†=.,,,,,
,,,,.=†$*& thousand meters.  from topsoil to stone, &*$†=.,,,,
,,,.=†$*&@ a foot  or two. no roots can  fester, no @&*$†=.,,,
,,.=†$*&@#             dust can linger.             #@&*$†=.,,
,.=†$*&@##                                          ##@&*$†=.,
,,.=†$*&@# here  is earth,  clay,  and  sturdy  low #@&*$†=.,,
,,,.=†$*&@ plants.  bushes  frame  the  strip.  the @&*$†=.,,,
,,,,.=†$*& earth  is bare  in patches  as  large as &*$†=.,,,,
,,,,,.=†$*                you and me.               *$†=.,,,,,
,,,,.=†$*&                                          &*$†=.,,,,
,,,.=†$*&@ cross  it to get to the ocean, or  don't @&*$†=.,,,
,,.=†$*&@#          to stay where you are.          #@&*$†=.,,
,.=†$*&@##                                          ##@&*$†=.,
,,.=†$*&@#                                          #@&*$†=.,,
,,,.=†$*&@                                          @&*$†=.,,,
,,,,.=†$*&                                          &*$†=.,,,,
,,,,,.=†$*                                          *$†=.,,,,,
,,,,.=†$*&                                          &*$†=.,,,,