Same Old Story Poem by Donal Mahoney

When Martha gets home from
cooking class this afternoon,
Martin will be gone

after 30 years of marriage.
Martha won't know why
but it's the same old story

another woman
this one young and beautiful
but deaf and mute as well

a woman Martin likes
because her body speaks
a language of its own

a woman who stays home
unless Martin chooses
to walk her

along with his dog, Sparky,
an old sheepdog his wife
gave him as a pup.