A punt is a long thin boat which has a front and a back. One should stand on the back, which has some sort of an aft-deck, and punt the punt so that the front goes forwards.
If your punt pole gets stuck in the mud, then pull it out.
Don't stick the pole in the air before or after a bridge. If you fail to heed my advice, and you are on the Backs, I'll come and laugh at you.