王夫之(1619~1692)，字而农，湖南衡阳人。明崇祯举人，曾从永历桂王举兵抗清，南明灭后隐遁归山，埋首著述，博通经学、史学和文学，贡献卓著，学者称船山先生。他生于“屈子之乡”，受楚辞影响，步武《离骚》，用美人香草寄托抒怀，如《绝句》：“半岁青青半岁荒，高田草似下田荒。埋心不死留春色，且忍罡风十夜霜。”借舒草之心“不死”，喻坚韧不拔之志和恢复故国“春色”的理想。

王夫子·《绝句》

楚人有涉江者，其剑自舟中坠于水。
遽契其舟，曰：“是吾剑之所从坠。”
舟止，从其所契者入水求之。
——舟已行矣，而剑不行：求剑若此，不亦惑乎？
——《吕氏春秋》

Jueju
Wang Fuzi
Only green for half a year, for the other half the land lies waste;
The grass in uplands is yellow just as in low-lying fields.
Hiding its innermost part with its inherent vernal charms,
The grass is ready to put up frosty nights and cruel winds.