This collection of poetry is the author's personal favorite. So much creativity can spring from so much pain. This "ring" represents just one year. (Picture the rings in a cross section of a tree trunk). Just as rain nourishes the tree and contributes to its growth, the rain or pain nourishes personal growth at a time the author is rejected by two women. This volume begins simply enough with Paul asking, "How can lovers two become." In SEQUOIA MORE he is asking how much more is he expected to grow because it hurts so much, and later MY BARK begins to show the answer.