and in the end

when the old man
died, his sons
and daughters
flew in from
across the country.
all at once
they filled
the house, taking
what was decided
upon, leaving behind
the unawanted
books and clothes.
they looked out
the windows
where he looked out,
sat in his chairs,
opened his
refrigerator as he
had done throughout
the years.
and when enough
grief had set in,
they left in their
cars, with a sign
for sale, planted
in the long grass
of his yard.