- description
- # INSCRIPTION
## Overview - What this is (type, form, dates, scope)
"INSCRIPTION" is a chapter within the poetry collection [John Marr and Other Poems](arke:01KG8AJ5CWVMSM9AY2938E996H), extracted from the text file [john_marr_and_other_poems.txt](arke:01KG89J19Y3FNVN5KWASY78BP4). The chapter was extracted on January 30, 2026, and is part of the [Melville Complete Works](arke:01KG89HMDZKNY753EZE1CJ8HZW) collection. The text consists of a poem, spanning lines 3406 to 3426 of the source file.
## Context - Background and provenance from related entities
This chapter, labeled "INSCRIPTION," is a poem dedicated "For Graves at Pea Ridge, Arkansas." It is part of a collection of poems by Herman Melville, as indicated by its inclusion in the "Melville Complete Works" collection. The chapter is preceded by "AMERICA" and followed by "THE FORTITUDE OF THE NORTH" within the larger poetry collection.
## Contents - What it contains, key subjects and details
The poem "INSCRIPTION" reflects on the sacrifices made in battle, specifically referencing the graves at Pea Ridge, Arkansas. The verses contemplate the nature of death in war, contrasting the "furious fight" with "tranquil plight" and "tame surrender." The poem emphasizes the soldiers' belief in their cause, their lack of choice in the conflict, and their ultimate victory.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:08.877Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- INSCRIPTION
- end_line
- 3426
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:32.310Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 3406
- text
- INSCRIPTION
_For Graves at Pea Ridge, Arkansas_
Let none misgive we died amiss
When here we strove in furious fight:
Furious it was; nathless was this
Better than tranquil plight,
And tame surrender of the Cause
Hallowed by hearts and by the laws.
We here who warred for Man and Right,
The choice of warring never laid with us.
There we were ruled by the traitor’s choice.
Nor long we stood to trim and poise,
But marched and fell—victorious!
- title
- INSCRIPTION