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........,~ 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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