There are no gods amongst men
As a shrine, we salute, make immortal
Who, though, withstands the public gaze
Stands the test of time in changing tides
History has a brutal past; lest we forget
Today a hero; tomorrow, a villain, truth catches up
Some victories take generations to right the wrongs
And so some statues do not stand the test of time
Injustice must be removed, but by who?
How to heal the past and brighten the day
Art soothes the soul and nourishes the mind
Let art be the light that marks the time
Finding beauty, exposing the life of an ever-changing muse
Sculpting a better tomorrow while reflecting on the past
-Camille Delaquise
This poem appears in The Precipice, Camille’s third contemporary poetry collection. There are no gods amongst men explores the instability of public virtue and historical memory — questioning who is elevated, who is condemned, and how art might offer a more humane way of reckoning with the past while shaping a better future.