“Behold my stall,” the proprietor said
To Achilles’ mom. “I have just what your
Sweet birthday boy desires—the coolest stuff.
I have ridden on the L train enough
And people always stare, so trust me, I
Know what I’m talking about. Socks, knee-high?
Sure, they have been worn before by other
Feet. As a loving and concerned mother,
You don’t want him to fall ill through his heel.
Imagine how bad that would make you feel!”
The Vintage Sweater of Achilles by Colin Stokes
excerpt from The New Yorker, June 16, 2015.
Grumio: Life in the Middle 