The speaker watches two strangers who seem to turn a city intersection into a stage. One is a woman who acts like a conductor, directing traffic that isn't there. The other is a man who pretends to fly fish, casting his line over the empty street. The speaker can't tell whether they work together or compete, and admits her thoughts are "anyone's guess."
When cars arrive, the horns become the music. She spins and waves as if to quiet critics, while he keeps casting at the "traffic riffles." The speaker, standing between them, watches as the honking grows louder and the cars edge closer, a threat of "a thousand pounds of steel." In the end, the two give up their spots, reluctantly but gracefully, like dancers who know the steps.
The mood is playful and observant, with a note of tension. The speaker seems amused and fascinated, and the poem treats these odd street acts with real respect.