- description
- # On a natural Monument
## Overview
"On a natural Monument" is a poem segment from the collection *Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.* by Herman Melville. It was extracted from the text file `battle_pieces_and_aspects_of_the_war.txt`.
## Context
This poem is part of the larger work *Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.*, a collection of poems by Herman Melville reflecting on the American Civil War. The collection is housed within the broader archive "Melville Complete Works." This segment follows the poem "A Requiem" and precedes "Commemorative of a Naval Victory."
## Contents
The poem "On a natural Monument" reflects on the enduring fame of soldiers who endured hardship and died in obscurity. It contrasts their quiet, unheralded end with the more conventional glory of those who die in battle and are celebrated with hymns and accolades. The poem emphasizes that true fame lies in endurance, even when that endurance seems futile. The text describes soldiers who "choked in horror the pensive sigh" and faced "withering famine" and disease, ultimately finding solace only in their quiet rest and the enduring nature of their struggle.
- description_generated_at
- 2026-01-30T20:48:24.872Z
- description_model
- gemini-2.5-flash-lite
- description_title
- On a natural Monument
- end_line
- 3652
- extracted_at
- 2026-01-30T20:47:35.911Z
- extracted_by
- structure-extraction-lambda
- start_line
- 3621
- text
- On a natural Monument
in a field of Georgia.[21]
No trophy this--a Stone unhewn,
And stands where here the field immures
The nameless brave whose palms are won.
Outcast they sleep; yet fame is nigh--
Pure fame of deeds, not doers;
Nor deeds of men who bleeding die
In cheer of hymns that round them float:
In happy dreams such close the eye.
But withering famine slowly wore,
And slowly fell disease did gloat.
Even Nature’s self did aid deny;
They choked in horror the pensive sigh.
Yea, off from home sad Memory bore
(Though anguished Yearning heaved that way),
Lest wreck of reason might befall.
As men in gales shun the lee shore,
Though there the homestead be, and call,
And thitherward winds and waters sway--
As such lorn mariners, so fared they.
But naught shall now their peace molest.
Their fame is this: they did endure--
Endure, when fortitude was vain
To kindle any approving strain
Which they might hear. To these who rest,
This healing sleep alone was sure.
- title
- On a natural Monument