Last Act

Don't be suprised it has taken so long
to show you these:
the gaps like missing teeth
in the face of my speech,
the silent mouthing O,
the stuck record of my tongue
and the countdown through the page
to the zero of the word
failing to catch. Because
isn't this always the last act?
The drawing back of the curtain
to show the parts we've played.
The previous scenes stacked in the wings
and at the centre, under the spotlight,
the actor, bowing as himself
for the first time all night.