Hakuin sees the sign for the contest
And once again wonders about these Celts.
Such a simple task, yet they make so much of it.
What can be difficult about tossing capons?

Standing on the field,
As three men prepare to hand him a tree,
Hakuin thinks, Oh well,
Language can be tricky.

Hakuin reaches out with his being to the great Tao
And centers himself in its energy.
Before accepting the caber he listens to the Tao,
He learns from it how he must focus himself.
He plants his feet firmly on the ground.

Taking the enormous pole, Hakuin takes a step forward
Letting the top lean forward.
And as it leans he begins to run,
The top always centered above his feet.
His feet, even in motion,
Firmly planted on the ground.

When the pulse of the Tao is right,
He raises his arms,
Lifting the pole upwards and outwards
Until it has left his hands.
No more can be done.
Success or failure depends on what has gone before.
And Hakuin watches,
His feet firmly planted on the ground.

In slow motion the pole turns as it soars,
The top and bottom exchanging positions,
Much like the Tao itself.
That which was high becomes low,
That which was low becomes high.
And as the caber lands perfectly upright
Hakuin watches,
His feet firmly planted on the ground.

Standing on its end the pole wobbles.
Slowly.
To win, it must fall near the twelve o-clock position.
In this instant of eternity, however,
Its final destination is in the flux of Tao.
And Hakuin watches,
His feet firmly planted on the ground.

Now it leans to one side,
Hakuin imagines the clock face spread before him.
That would be three o-clock, he thinks.
Not a win, not even a contender.
But still Hakuin watches,
His feet firmly planted on the ground.

It leans again.
Hakuin imagines the clock face once more.
That would be eleven o-clock, he thinks.
A good throw.
But still Hakuin watches,
His feet firmly planted on the ground.

It leans one more time.
This is the final moment.
Hakuin imagines the clock face for the last time.
That would be…what? He thinks.
Of course -- six o-clock.
And Hakuin loses consciousness,
His feet firmly planted a foot into the ground.