then what?  

the old gentleman is seen carting his goods to the inside

walking backward up the ramp to the lobby believing

it's easier to pull a cart than to push it. 

in November they lamented from the kitchen:

"this could be his last Thanksgiving".

but vital-sign test results are in so the endurance required

in carting his goods to the elevator appears doable.

this is the landscape;  the concrete-columned nine

story building with its fifth floor balcony overlooking

the river to the north.

from the balcony there's no ready access westward.

that would take a voyage.

but to the right and southward lies Antarctica, an iced continent

which he's been told holds the key to biological rejuvenation.

all he needs now is the time necessary to venture that far

down

       the

           river.