In her poem On the Subway Sharon Olds describes an encounter between two drastically different strangers in the same subway car. Olds uses similes, imagery, metaphors, and tone to develop contrasts in both portraits in her poem. Olds uses imagery to describe the two strangers, and how they contrast in appearances. The boy is described as dark-skinned and menacing like a mugger, wearing red, and black sneakers. On the other hand the woman is described as being white, more elegantly dressed in the dark fur of an animal, and carrying a briefcase. Using imagery and details Olds describes both strangers in detail and develops a contrast between the two. Olds uses imagery to develop a contrast in race when she describes the two stranger’s skin color.