last time

At 90 the man feels the day piece by piece
action and reaction
movement has become pain
and the pain grates his temperament
It shortens his stride
and lowers the veil
to reveal the man inside

watching him from a distance
i see him gaze longingly
through years to find himself now
looking up he studies the room around him
taking in each detail to complete another picture
glancing round at a sea of faces
he is treading water now
holding on

this man
my father
sits stage left in the final act
sentence by sentence he is making his last speech
there is sorrow and understanding and truth
finally

he has known death all his life
they have moved through the years
like a moth and a light
now face to face
they are close to parting
circling forebodingly with the finale in sight