THE FLOUR SACK

BY  COLLEEN B. HUBERT

IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,
WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,
WHEN  WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,
AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,
AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WAS WAY OUT BACK,
A  VERSATILE ITEM, WAS THE FLOUR SACK.
 
PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S  AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO
STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND  BLUE.
THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;
THE FLOUR  EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.
THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A  SACK
THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.
 
THE SACK COULD BE  FILLED WITH FEATHER AND DOWN,
FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A  SLEEPING GOWN.
IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,
OR  BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.
IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,
THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.
 
BLEACHED AND SEWN,  IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN
AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED.
IT  WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS
AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS.
SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR  SHACK,
FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!
 
AS A  STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,
TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY  GOOD USE,
AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,
TO HELP  MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,
AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A  CRACK,
WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!
 
AS DISH TOWELS,  EMBROIDERED OR NOT,
THEY COVERED UP DOUGH, HELPED PASS PANS SO  HOT
TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,
AND FOR MEN OUT IN  THE FIELD TO SEED.
THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK
THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!
 
WE POLISHED  AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,
SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,
WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,
MADE COSTUMES FOR  OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)
AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.
FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!
 
SO NOW MY  FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU
AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN  DO,
"BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMERS GLUE
AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"
TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,
"GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR  SACK!"