A place on the mantlepiece

The gap behind the clock    
once kept pool coupons      
that changed dreams into      
lottery tickets when Albert      
left his wife, sloped off      
with thirty years of her life.      
     
They had a son John who      
bit his lip for far too long      
hated his mum for what      
he thought she’d done      
the reason dad was gone,      
he packed, never came back.      
     
And so her routine went by,      
tablets to ease and sometimes      
to cry, too much time  
missing her son, happy alone  
but wants some fun.      
A once meek wife lost in life,      
with rent to pay each week.      
     
Suitcase in the taxi, meter      
running upstairs for one last      
look at the sum of all nothings,      
left house keys on the table      
and all the cheap belongings,      
takes a deep breath then  
pulls the door shut.      
     
As the driver pulls away,      
the answer phone says its thing,      
then, hello mum; Its John  
sorry I haven't called sooner  
I really regret not keeping in touch  
I heard your news,      
give me a call when you get in.     
     
She enters her Pin  
into the High Street    
cash machine.      
Mini statement gets printed out      
her finger moves along with the count,      
it touches on 4 million dreams,    
and a million places    
she’s never been, before.