99

You're the nearly number
Hanging about waiting to be a hundred

Cricketers wanting to make a century
Speed freaks wanting to do a ton
A test result not quite full score

99, the nearly-guy
But I look at you and remember teachers
Telling us that all speech ended in 99.
The thing that ended talking was a 99
(it started with a 66, they said)
Write:
The man said, 66Hello99.
The speech marks to end all speech marks: 99

99 - not nearly, but an end.

But also:
An ice cream with a chocolate flake stuck in it -
A delicious Excalibur
(Hard luck, King Arthur, you missed out on that one)
99, the last of the elevensey rhythms.
Nine elevens are ninety-nine.
Ninety-nine
Comin' down the line
Ninety-nine
Black-shoe-shine
Ninety-nine
Just on time
Ninety nine
Doin just fine.