The student puffed and punted
marshalling the pole
from hand to hand bracing
thighs to hold its weight
as it reached the very top
of its apogee not quite toppling
them both into the river.
The expert
lightly
skied
the pole
like
releasing
a bird
then
gently
drew it
back
cradling it
briefly
as if it were
a hawk
on a lure
home
from an
instinctive
journey.