Ghost Dogs and Animals of the West

By June Reynolds

Animal Tails is a collection of short stories, fables, poems, and essays collected and experienced by the author. There is the natural aspect of life and death, and many mystical tales which still exist in our world. The book is about animals, but it is also a book about the relationship between humanity and beast. These animals are usually &quo

• Language: English
• Publisher: ReadersMagnet LLC
• Release date: Dec 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781948864947

June Reynolds

June Reynolds is a longtime Jungian. In today’s frightening world, she hopes that the message in Lisa and the Green Lady might offer some insight and comfort to those who read it. Our left-brain rational mindset is a magnificent tool, but when we let that tool dominate our right-brain feeling function, disaster enters the scene. That is what is happening to us today. Without the judgment of feeling, rationality becomes destructive.   June lives in Toronto, Canada.

Book preview

Ghost Dogs and Animals of the West

Copyright © 2018 by June Reynolds

Published in the United States of America

ISBN Paperback: 978-1-948864-92-3

ISBN Hardback: 978-1-948864-93-0

ISBN eBook: 978-1-948864-94-7

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of ReadersMagnet, LLC.

ReadersMagnet, LLC

10620 Treena Street, Suite 230 | San Diego, California, 92131 USA

1.619. 354. 2643 | www.readersmagnet.com

Book design copyright © 2018 by ReadersMagnet, LLC. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Ericka Walker

Interior design by Shemaryl Evans

Illustrated by Clyde List

Photos by June Reynolds

Contents

Preface 

The Common Mourning Dove 

Falling from a Dark Sky 

Chocolate Brown Rabbits 

Little Brown Fox Knows 

Shadow and Shade 

Sentinel Cow 

Owls 

Coyote 

Proud Bird 

Up the North Umpqua 

Surprise in the Meadow 

The Chicken Feeding Song 

Big Creek Pigeons 

Oregon Bear 

Message 

Devil Dog of Rex Hill 

Dark Raven and the New Ocean 

The Peccary Parade 

The Black Lizard 

Sheep 274 

So Precious 

Ragged Ear, the Rabbit 

Deer At Home 

Animal Behavior 

Monday 

The Silent Desert 

Cold Fish 

Evolution at the Bay 

Preface

From furry tumbling kittens to steely eyed mountain lions, animals have an amazing effect on human beings. We love our pets and are in awe of wild animals. Every living thing from insects, to birds, to elk inspires us all in nature. But with developments encroaching in the desert, swamps, and mountains and stress on our climate from mining, fossil fuels, and pesticides, humans are not only endangering animals, but also ourselves.

Animals are part of nature—urban, rural, and wilderness. The relationship between animals and humans is uncanny. We have emotional ties with these creatures and animals have emotional ties and needs of us. We have found ways to make animals work for us in so many ways. As animals become endangered and extinct, what does that say about our chances for survival?

Culturally, animals have entered into our folklore, history, and fables. Their use in stories has helped primitive cultures to explain the events and ways of the world. Besides stories, animals are symbolic and symbols are a strong force in human cultures.

All of these things make up the relationship we have with animals. This is a collection of animal tales that have been part of my life.

—J. R.

The Common Mourning Dove

Who coos for you, Mourning Dove?

Who coos for you?

The rabbit watches silent, as you swoop down to the ground.

The lizard blends into a rock, from him there is no sound.

The desert rat, he does his jig, the snake, he curls a’round.

So, who coos for you, Mourning Dove? Who coos for you?

4/29/12

Falling from a Dark Sky

Dog was sleeping in a drift of sand. It was warm from the afternoon sun. He was sleeping soundly. All around him, the air was a black velvet. There was no moon. The Palo Verde tree wheezed