AN: A response to Bjork's wonderful song "Pagan Poetry" from the perspective of the woman's lover. Pulls lyrics from the original. I highly recommend the music video.

PAGAN POETRY

She is everywhere I am

in a pearly dress with bare breasts

And gleaming smile

She wants me to be all-knowing

all-watching

-

He makes me want to hurt myself

She says

He makes me want to hurt myself

I never told her to

She says

He makes me want to hand myself over

I never would impose

-

She wants me to be the blame

And the bane of her existence

But still she wants me watching, staring, omniscient

-

He makes me want to hurt myself

She said

He makes me want to hurt myself

I never

-

She wants me to be fearsome

I suppose this is how she was raised

I can be fearsome

But I never told her

I never

-

I’m beginning to realize I’ve made a mistake

He makes me want to hand myself over

She’s cutting, biting, tearing

It’s no longer making love

-

She tells me I make her want to hurt herself

a g a i n

-

All the while she’s smiling

Her hands are cupped around my hips

All the while she’s smiling

demon of the storm

Her hair whipping to and fro like a blueblack tornado

Shadows under her eyes remark; a similar style

-

I tell her she’s lunacy

I tell her it’s hard for me to face her now that she’s lost her face

-

She doesn’t seem discouraged

She’s all the while smiling

He makes me want to hurt myself

-

And I can hear my words forming before I think:

Bind them tighter

Pull those pins

-

I love you, I say

But I need you

to hurt yourself again.