for SATB Chorus, Piano, Percussion and Solo Instrument Copyright © 2023 Sydney Guillaume
A Taste of Freedom
By: Lloyd Reshard, Jr. (1983 - )
Do you know well the peace of home; like mama used to make?
The chicken soup made for the soul1 when burdened by life's weight.
The staple comforts of the grain, from pilaf to stir fry; tortilla, pone, and hoecakes2 our calloused hands supply.
We cultivate our patience, long; the wisdom tilling3 makes. Eat borscht4 or soup joumou5 joumou while waiting for our fate.
All knead the dough of Liberty to boil or bake & rise. Whatever then we offer up; America’s our prize.
Our food tastes like freedom; Our food tastes like peace; Our food tastes like home; Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet.
My food tastes like Joy; My food fills you up. Let the flavor, that is you and me, remind us we are home.
1 An allegory to the popular book series from the 1990’s https://www.chickensoup.com/ known for uplifting stories with a moral message.
2 Tortilla [tɔːrˈtiːə], pone [pōnə], & hoecakes [hōkāks]; These foods are all made from corn/cornmeal, a staple of Central & North American diets; see the significance of corn and its history here: ref. https://www.britannica.com/plant/corn-plant
3 Agriculture is one of the oldest human skills that has been passed down for 12,000 years; ref. https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/developm ent-agriculture
4 Borscht [bɔːrʃt] is thought to have originated in the Ukraine; ref. https://www.britannica.com/topic/borscht
5 Soup Joumou [dʒuːmu] is an Haitian dish eaten during the new year to celebrate freedom; ref. https://visithaiti.com/food-drink/soup-joumou/
It’s here, the cornbread’s always sweet6; the chicken, always brined.7 That good ole southern comfort food Clotilda left behind.8
And, when night comes, we break the seal of wine or Aquavit;9 distilled or maybe hopped & brown, to put our minds at ease.
At last, wherever I may rest, I’ll eat what God provides. Be on the street or in my bed, alone or by your side.
All knead the dough of Liberty to boil or rise & bake. Whatever then we offer up; a nation, we will make.
Our food tastes like freedom; Our food tastes like peace; Our food tastes like home; Sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet.
My food tastes like Joy; My food fills you up.
Let the flavor, that is you and me, remind us this is home.
America, our home.
America, our home.
6 Cornbread, another dish attributed to the American South, is made from ground white corn. It is commonly attributed to black southerners to sweeten their cornbread with sugar.
7 While brining did not originate in the US, It is widely accepted in Black American culture that well flavored chicken is ALWAYS brined.
8 The Clotilda, ref: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonianinstitution/clotilda-last-known-slave-ship-arrive-us-found180972177/ While food is not directly connected to the finding of this ship, this statement is to connect black cuisine as a contribution to America’s food culture.
9 Pronounced: [akwəˌvēt]ˈ “Aquavit is still considered a wise choice to help the digestion after large meals during the festive season.” ref. https://nordicspirits.com/en/historyaquavit & https://www.britannica.com/topic/aquavit
A ATasteTasteofofFreedom Freedom
when burdened - by life's weight. for the soul when burdened - by life's weight. for the soul whenburdened - by life's weight. for the soul whenburden - by life's weight.
andhoecakes - our calloused - handssup-ply.
We
culti - -vate our patience, - long; the
andhoecakes - our calloused - handssup-ply.
andhoecakes - our calloused - handssup-ply.
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andhoecakes - our calloused - handssup-ply. We
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waiting - for our fate.
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Lettheflavor - thatis you and me, remind - us we are
Lettheflavor - thatis you and me, remind - us we are home.
are
q. = 64
That goodolesouthern - comfort - food, thatcomfort - food,
That goodolesouthern - comfort - food, thatcomfort - food, mp espress.
chicken - al-waysbrined.That goodolesouthern - comfort - food, thatcomfort - food, mp espress.
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doughofLiber - -ty
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This score is for perusal purposes only and is not licensed for performance.
Portland, Oregon December 27, 2022