On the train the woman standing

In its general structure, the poem appears to be a narrative poem with a linear plot; at moments, though, the poem defies this categorization and becomes almost allegorical as the speaker transcends the poem’s story into a broader philosophical discussion. The semi-tangible nature of the poem’s plot points is matched by the narrative tone of the poem: The speaker alternates between vivid, concrete description and vague, almost theoretical musings that seem located beyond one individual’s experience. Therefore, the poem is both an allegory and an individual story of the impact of race and racism on day-to-day life. This is in keeping with the larger tone and content of the book the poem is published in, Rankine’s Citizen; readers interested in analyzing this aspect of the poem might want to read other pieces from the text to support their thinking.

The poem’s point-of-view and tone create both the speaker’s identity and direct engagement to the reader. The poem is written in the second person, consistently addressing “you” (Line 1), yet the person being addressed could also be interpreted as the speaker. This structure draws the reader in and constructs the location of each subject of the poem: the man, the woman who won’t sit, and the “you” who is being addressed.