Yeah, it looks great Gary!  I was planning on trying to make the shaft fit the shape at the joint.  Still not sure what else I will do with it, but I have access to my friend's lathe, and I like turning, but I'll have to keep myself from getting carried away.  I think a relatively simple design will look good with this.  Wouldn't want the pole to draw any attention away from the gonne, and it wouldn't look quite right with too ornate a shaft.