Without a Horse

A man without a car is a poor fellow,
It’s like a cowboy without a horse, a lonely soul,
He doesn’t know what to do or who to visit in the ranches,
He walks alone in Los Angeles or Dallas,

He can’t visit the great rivers of Utah,
Nor go to photograph the mighty bisons,
Everything is complicated without a car, without a horse,
The cowboy can’t dress himself in California,

He can only feed on salads or sweet poetry; 
Everything is difficult, buying a book, a new razor,
Look at the shooting stars above Lake Powell,
Everything is so far away, the flowers on the green hills,

A cowboy without a horse is not free, poor fellow
He can’t cross the Grand Canyon or Arizona fields, 
He sees no sun, nor can he meet again his friends,
The gold diggers, the noisy saloons, the poor fellow,

The poor fellow, he is not master of his destiny.




Un homme sans voiture, c’est un pauvre bougre,
C’est comme un cowboy sans cheval, sans âme,
Il ne sait que faire, ni qui visiter dans les ranchs,
Il marche solitaire dans Los Angeles ou Dallas,

Il ne peut visiter les grandes rivières D’Utah,
Ni s’en aller photographier les puissants bisons,
Tout est compliqué sans voiture, sans cheval,
Le cowboy ne peut  s’habiller en Californie,

Il ne peut  que se nourrir de salades ou de poésie ; 
Tout est difficile, acheter un livre,  un rasoir neuf,
Regarder les étoiles filantes au-dessus du Lake Powell,
Tout est si loin,  les fleurs sur les collines vertes,

Un cowboy sans cheval, n’est pas libre, vous dis-je,
Il ne peut traverser le Grand Canyon, ni l’Arizona, 
Il ne voit de soleil, ni ne peut retrouver ses amis,
Les chercheurs d’or, aux saloons bruyants, le pauvre,

Le pauvre bougre, il n’est pas maitre de son destin.



PS, when i come back from the garage friday, i was the happiest man of the world
Copyright © | Year Posted 2023

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Andresen Avatar
November 9, 2023 at 12:38 PM
- We depend on "our horse" ... although I love to use my feet ... but, prefer to walk in nature ... not in the city ... a great poem, Yann :) - hugs
Buehler Avatar
November 9, 2023 at 12:06 PM
A captivating poem. It's fun to read in both languages. Great writing, Yann. :)
Hind Avatar
November 8, 2023 at 6:28 PM
I love love horses- but don't have one, or a car for that manner, lol. I take a bus around. I liked your poem.
Rolland Avatar
November 8, 2023 at 10:18 PM
thanks Paige, car are useful and helpful i guess, i different places, actually i need new shoes, and i can't buy new ones , my car is back to the garage thanks for your support
Baker Avatar
November 7, 2023 at 8:43 PM
Without transportation it is hard to enjoy everything around you. Nice poem, Yann. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us through your poetry, my friend. Bill
Rolland Avatar
November 8, 2023 at 10:17 PM
Bill, thank you so much for your support, yann
Dietrich Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 11:54 AM
ha. yes, US is so spread out. you definitely need transportation.
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:24 PM
thanks andrea, i really know about buses en USA, thanks for passing by and "let it know" ?
Buhagiar Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 1:52 AM
I can relate. Since my three months away I have been deprived of my car. I feel mad. Loved your poem. Blessings.
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:25 PM
Thanks a lot,Victor three months is terrible, i couldn't bear it, thanks for the friendly message
Fowler Avatar
November 5, 2023 at 7:06 PM
You did an awesome job with this poem and its translation Yann. It reminds me of the proverb: “For want of a nail the shoe was lost. For want of a shoe the horse was lost. For want of a horse the rider was lost. For want of a rider the battle was lost. For want of a battle the kingdom was lost. And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.” You seem to know a lot about the States. Have you visited? :)
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:27 PM
Thanks linda, nice story indeed, enjoyed , yes i have visited USA durong three different travels, i keep excellent and beautiful memories, such a great place to be, thanks for stopping by
Bauer Avatar
November 5, 2023 at 11:50 AM
wonderful poem, yann, although one of the joys of living in a city is that you can get around without a car very easily. it's nice to have one when you need to go someplace far, but i'm happiest when i can walk to places...
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:33 PM
Thanks Ilene, i need escaping the city so often and far, yes cities can be easy for moving oneself, thanks for the beautiful comment and support enjoy your day and poem
Empress Avatar
November 5, 2023 at 6:20 AM
I thought of the song “ im not an actor nor a star and i dont even have my own car” ahhh this is so sad but true in so many places. Very well written. And delivered.
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:36 PM
this is so true in my place, i am easily boring, i need to move and drive , thanks for the song, i didn't know about it, thanks you for stopping by IE, i appreciated so much
Fernandez-Garcia Avatar
November 4, 2023 at 7:35 PM
Listen Yann...this is beautiful poem. Well written. In the USA you better have a car, otherwise it's difficoult Bonne journee mon amixxx
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:38 PM
thanks Maria for your support, I couldn't live without a car, that inspired me cause my car was in the garage for a month, thank you for stopping by so nicely
Connelly Avatar
November 4, 2023 at 6:19 PM
Lol yann. So true in the USA, where a car is almost essential for cross country travel. I've always found Europe nice to get around by either train or bus. {PS: Why the PS yann?) ;)
Rolland Avatar
November 6, 2023 at 2:39 PM
thank you Jeff, for appreciation, and stopping by, i love buses and train too, when i go far away in Europe, i am gald you experoenced it, have a nice day poet
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