Tooth Shrine

​Henny Burnet's extraordinary relic marks the site of St Edmund's shrine in the crypt, the Abbey Gardens. The jewel encrusted shrine displayed holy objects around the coffin, including the saint's toe nail clippings. Teeth adorning a saccharine sculpture seems quite normal. The poem written in response is by James McDermott.

Tooth Fairy

I’m born toothless don’t need to bite back yet
by four fairy toddler gave me twenty
thirteen faggot snap back with thirty two
until Jason smashed a hole in my smile
black void still there teeth are only human
body part that cannot repair themselves

​James McDermott

Henny Burnett Henny Burnett is a mixed media artist who lives and works in Bristol and London. She attended Byam Shaw and Edinburgh Colleges of Art. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, undertaking residencies in Italy and Britain. She has won awards from Juliet Gomperts Trust, The British council, ACE and travel grants to Canada and USA. Recently a finalist for the Aesthetica Art Prize 2021 and awarded a commission for new work by Procreate Project funded by ACE. https://www.axisweb.org/p/hennyburnett/​ Instagram: @hennyburnett

James McDermott's plays published by Samuel French include 'Rubber Ring' (Pleasance Islington/UK Tour) and 'Time & Tide' (Park Theatre/UK Tour). His poetry books include 'Manatomy' (Burning Eye Books; long-listed for Polari's First Book Prize 2021), 'Erased' (Polari Press) and 'Green Apple Red' (Broken Sleep Books). James is a lecturer in Scriptwriting at UEA. https://jamesmcdermottwriter.weebly.com  Instagram @jamesmcdermott1993