Pole Vaulter

The approach to the bar         
is everything
The above lines set up the next lines nicely.  Donald S., Age 13
                    
unless I have counted
my steps        hit my markers          
feel up to it      I refuse               .
to follow through                                 
I am committed to beginnings           
or to nothing  
Yes, if you don’t commit to beginnings, you’ll get nothing.  Drew D. Age 13
And doing everything well! Ben T., Age 13
“Planting” is very easy to see, yet is not a clichéd use.  Matt R.  Age 13

planting the pole 
at runway's end   
jolts me
out of sprinting
I take off     kicking in
and up     my whole weight
trying the frailty
of fiberglass   
He doesn't use punctuation in order to show one flowing movement.  Donald S., Age 13
                             
never forcing myself
trusting it is right
to be taken to the end
of tension     poised for
the powerful thrust to              
fly me beyond expectation  
Above is alliteration of "p" sound.  Eric V., Age 13
The final stanza is very descriptive!  Matt R., Age 13

near the peak
I roll my thighs inward        
arch my back      clearing
as much of the bar as I can  
well envisioned.  Drew D., Age 13
(knowing the best jump
can be canceled
by a careless elbow)
 
and open my hands.