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 WERE WAY OUT BACK,
A VERSITILE
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 FEATHERS AND DOWN,
FOR A
PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A NICE 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, ELMER'S GLUE
AND PAPER
TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"
TELL THEM
LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK,
"GRANDMOTHER
HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!"
Thank you for this! I loved it. It is so very true - my grandmother used flour and feed sacks for so many things. I enjoyed the whimsical reminder!
Happy Holidays to you!