《九月》一诗写于一九八六年，写作这首诗的时候，海子已经从北京大学毕业到中国政法大学任教近三个年头。此时的海子思想上是相对较成熟的，对于世界、生存、死亡、时间与空间等已经建立了一套属于自己的认识框架。这首诗就是诗人思考的结果，认识的反映，它以充满神秘色彩、闪烁神性光芒的意象和独具特色的语言构造，对上述事物进行了诗性的言说与烛照。

九月

海子

目击众神死亡的草原上野花一片

远在远方的风比远方更远

我的琴声呜咽  泪水全无

我把这远方的远归还草原

一个叫马头  一个叫马尾

我的琴声呜咽  泪水全无

远方只有在死亡中凝聚野花一片

明月如镜高悬草原映照千年岁月

我的琴声呜咽  泪水全无

只身打马过草原

1986

September

Hai Zi

witness the wildflowers on the grasslands where gods come to die

the wind – more distant than the furthest places

my lute crying out  without tears

I return the distance of distant places to the grasslands

one is called the head of my horse  one the tail*

my lute crying out  without tears

in the distance there are only wildflowers brought together in death

the bright moon like a mirror hung high over the grasslands, shines down on a thousand years

my lute crying out  without tears

alone whipping my horse crossing the grasslands

1986

* This apparently refers to the horse-headed qin (here translated as lute), a traditional musical instrument used by horse-riding Mongolian people. The instrument is so named because its body is traditionally made from a horse’s head. The strings and bow of the instrument are made from horse hair.

（Dan Murphy 译）

September

Hai Zi

The prairie that witnessed the death of gods is covered with flowers

The remote wind is more remote than remoteness

My lute weeps, but I’m without tears

I return distance to the prairie

One lute is named Wood-Head, the other Horse-Tail

My lute weeps, but I’m without tears

The distance can only condense flowers in death

The moon, like a mirror, hangs high over the prairie, reflecting thousands of years

My lute weeps, but I’m without tears

Alone I drive my horse across the prairie

1986

（Hong Zeng 译）

September

Hai Zi

Wildflowers gather on grasslands that witness the death of gods

The faraway wind is farther than far

My lute cries  without tears

I return the farness to the grasslands

One is called horsehead  one horsetail

My lute cries  without tears

Only in death will wildflowers gather afar

The moon is a mirror  hanging high  reflecting thousands of years

My lute cries  without tears

I speed my horse across the grasslands

（叶春 译）