The play tells the story of a volatile relationship between a married couple, a 53-year-old shoemaker and his 18-year-old wife.
The story follows the wife's struggle against her husband, the mayor, neighbours, suitors, and a "boy".
The Shoemaker, tired of a life on the road, is sorry and comes back disguised as a puppeteer.
He tells the wife he is sorry and she accepts him back happily and warmly.
The poem provides a condensed version of the story of The Shoemaker's life.