Jean Toomer, "Face" (1923)
silver-gray,
like streams of stars,
Brows—
recurved canoes
quivered by the ripples blown by pain,
Her eyes—
mist of tears
condensing on the flesh below
And her channeled muscles
are cluster grapes of sorrow
purple in the evening sun
nearly ripe for worms.
"Face" was first published in Modern Review 1, January 1923
Published in Cane, 1923
Also published in Caroling Dusk, 1927