In “on the subway,” by Sharon Olds, the speaker is a white woman questioning her safety with a young black male. This poem emphasizes the current standings of white and clack colored people. The author does this by the use of tone, imagery, and organization. The use of tone in this poem is through the eyes of the woman. As she sits in the subway car she notices a young black male. He has done nothing to her, nor has he said anything to her, but she continues to judge him for the red color he is wearing and the size of feet, but most importantly, she judges him based on the color of his skin. The tone of the woman towards the boy is very judgmental, for she states, “he has the casual cold look of a mugger” and later mentions, “ I don’t know
