1930’s, 40’s and 50’s flour sacks

THE FLOUR SACK

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,

ELMERS GLUE AND PAPER TOWELS,

WHAT DID YOU DO ?" 
TELL THEM LOUDLY

AND WITH PRIDE DON’T LACK, 
"GRANDMOTHER HAD

THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK !"

All these girls’ dresses

were made from flour sacks…

Panties (Bloomers) were made

from them also.

xoxo