A note from the poet:—

As part of my leave writing project, I write words, English or Chinese, on living leaves. A tree, next to what I call ‘The Critical Creek’ in my novel, just out, All the Rivers Run South, is full of leaves carrying the words ‘yes way’. This is a poem I wrote after I wrote the words on the leaves. (7/11/2023)

— Ouyang Yu, 2023