Riding a bike through a crowded city is the whole subject here, and the poem follows one ride from stress to relief. In the first stanza the rhythm is jumpy, with short lines like "Twisting and turning" and "Speeding and slowing." The streets are a "labyrinth," the noise and crowds press in, and tall buildings box the rider in. The bike seems to rush simply to get away, and the closing words, "Suffocated, nearly strangled," make the feeling of being trapped very physical.
Then the bike climbs a flyover, and everything opens up. The rider rises above the "lowly lot" and notices a blooming Gulmohar tree that seems to be smiling. Above it, there is a patch of bright white sky and, further off, a deep blue. The mood shifts from tense and breathless to calm and hopeful. The poem suggests that even in a cramped, noisy city, a small rise in height can bring a sense of freedom.