Turning Pro: The Story of Willie Morton

Willie Morton was a man
Who bowled all day and into night;
But bowling wasn’t his forte –
He couldn’t seem to get it right.
His hooking ball was smooth and pure,
But never hit the pins with force,
He always left some pins to pick up,
And missed them when his ball changed course.

Then one day, a thoughtful friend
Gave Willie a gift for his special day;
To celebrate Willie’s love for bowling,
She gave him a book on how to play.
The guide taught Willie strikes and spares
And even how to shoot at splits.
It even taught Willie the power game,
The crucial part that was giving him fits. 

Willie’s scores went up and up,
And soon his ball was hitting good.
He started sparing on his second balls;
And even struck, when no pins stood.
Willie’s average finally rose,
And now it was time to take the test –
Morton became a touring pro
To bowl against the world’s best.

Willie never once looked back –
Enjoying the sport’s brightest stage.
He never had any true success
Going against pros half his age.
There were times when Willie struck;
Spares weren’t much of a problem.
Other times Willie lived off spares;
Tough lanes - he couldn’t solve ‘em.

A helpful book had taught Willie Morton
All the knowledge it could teach –
Morton bowled the smartest game
But fame and greatness stayed out of reach. 
A book is one of many ways
To help an athlete grow.
But sports require immense desire
And strict regimens to turn pro.

Morton lived a life of love
And passion for the game.
When you ask him what he truly deserved,
He’d say, “God bless me, I deserved the same!”
The only thing that Morton lacked
Was a powerful, wicked style;
But that guide could never teach
Willie’s angelic, golden smile…