Final answer:
The tone of the poem "At the Tourist Center in Boston" is 'curious' based on the use of inquisitive language in the poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
Considering the poem "At the Tourist Center in Boston," the tone created by the lines in question seems to be curious. The tone, which is the overall vibe or underlying emotion that the author communicates through their word choice, structure, and rhythm, starts as if disclosing something and then becomes inquisitive as the speaker goes on to ask questions like -or was it the coldness?-. This transition suggests a shift from potentially being personal and intimate to exploring or seeking answers.
Other words such as saddened or distrustful may describe different moods or emotions if the context supported those interpretations; however, based on the provided excerpt, curiosity appears to be the dominant tone. When analyzing poems like "Neutral Tones" by Thomas Hardy or exploring notions of tone through settings and character experiences, as in the case of Mariana's bleak waiting in Tennyson's work, we can see how mood precise language choice shapes the tone and influences our reading of a piece.