"Bjork Pagan Poetry" is a song by the Icelandic singer Bjork, released in 2001 as a single from her album "Vespertine". The song incorporates elements of pagan spirituality and explores themes of love, desire, and connection. One of the main ideas in "Bjork Pagan Poetry" is the celebration of the natural and spiritual world. The lyrics describe a raw and intense love that is akin to a mystical experience. The song speaks of a deep connection with the divine and the power of human desire and passion. Bjork's use of poetic and metaphorical language enhances the spiritual undertones of the song.
“Dorian had heard the legends of the fallen Witch Kingdom, where bloodthirsty witches had overthrown the peaceful Crochan Dynasty and then ripped apart the kingdom stone by stone. Five hundred years later, songs were still sung of the deadly wars that had left the Ironteeth Clans the only ones standing on a killing field, dead Crochan queens all around them.”
For their protection, these mortal men do not travel with their wives and lovers; instead, they remain at permanent Crochan villages or homes, where they presumably raise any young children they may have. If a witch be it a long-dead ancestor or her mother had given birth to a child, it would have been a full-blooded witch, as would that witch s child, and so on and so forth.
Bjork's use of poetic and metaphorical language enhances the spiritual undertones of the song. Another important theme in "Bjork Pagan Poetry" is the exploration of vulnerability and the longing for emotional and physical intimacy. The song captures the essence of longing and desire through its poetic lyrics and the evocative melodies.
Iron teeth qitch
There are no male witches, so witches must have sex with human men to become pregnant, and then give birth to rare and precious witchlings (always female). We know Elide is definitely part human, as her blood is red. But how can she be part witch? If a witch (be it a long-dead ancestor or her mother) had given birth to a child, it would have been a full-blooded witch, as would that witch’s child, and so on and so forth.
I have to be missing something here somewhere. Surely this isn’t a flaw in the canon. I can’t see SJM making such an error in the writing of witch history. But how could a witch line become diluted when they only give birth to full-blooded witches?!
This is how I see it, and how I’ve seen it borderline explained across some fandom posts, but I mean this is all opinion really and you can take it however you want.
I don’t really see Elide as “part” witch, more like she is a witch, but isn’t completely like the others. And this is because (in my opinion) she wasn’t raised like the witches in the series are raised. We also get a line from Manon about their first bleeding, and how that kind of correlates to either their magic in a way, or just their birthright. That could be one reason why Elide doesn’t have blue blood, or why she’s considered “part” witch. When magic went away, she hadn’t had her first bleeding yet. Maybe that suppressed something in her blood?
Another option would be that Elide is a Crochan witch, rather than an Ironteeth witch. We don’t know what color their blood is, and considering the Crochan witches were born of Fae, are closer related to Fae (and as far as we know, Fae have red blood?) then that could be why Elide also has red blood. That also makes more sense on why she was brought up in Terrassen, where Fae weren’t an anomaly and where she would have been safe from the Ironteeth witches coming after her.
That’s my opinion though, and I’m not really sure if any of this made complete sense? I guess we’ll see what she really is (and if any of this is right/wrong) when EoS comes out.
I really like that theory. Wouldn’t it be fitting for Manon, always wearing her red Crochan cloak, to befriend a Crochan witch? And unless it was because she wasn’t raised with the witches, wouldn’t she know about her iron teeth and claws if she was an Ironteeth witch like Manon? Seems unlikely that Elide would be an Ironteeth
From Queen of Shadows:
“’You would hear that wind, girl… because anyone with Ironteeth blood does. I’m surprised your mother never told you. It’s passed on through the maternal line’” (Maas, 204).
“Witch-blood. Ironteeth blood. In her veins - in her mother’s heritage” (Maas, 204).
“Apparently, Marion the Ironteeth Witch would have been a better name” (Maas, 211).
“Vernon smiled. ‘I was wondering when you’d show you fangs, Elide. Or should I say your iron teeth?’” (Maas, 278).
“Fight, fight, fight, her blood sang - do not let him cage you. Your mother went down fighting. She was a witch, and you are a witch, and you do not yield - you do not yield-” (Maas, 495).
“’Blackbeak blood is in you veins - along with our family’s generous line of magic… The witches don’t have magic, not like us. But you, a hybrid of both lines…” (Maas, 495).
I think that if you are descended from the bloodline of witches, then you are considered a witch/ling, what Elide is referred to several times in Queen of Shadows. She’s definitely descended from the Ironteeth and more specifically the Blackbeak line.
It’s said in QoS that the Ironteeth “took after our Valg ancestors more, while the Crochans got more of the Fae traits” (Maas, 178).
A potential reason (my personal theory) is that one of Elide’s female ancestors married/mated(?)/had a child with a demi-Fae/Fae. As far as we know, Fae blood is red, and this could’ve caused her to become more like a Crochan witch than Ironteeth.
Another interesting thing to note is the Lochan side of the family. Cal Lochan is human (as evidenced by the very human Vernon), but it’s mentioned that there is strong magic in the Lochan bloodline, which is precisely why Vernon was so interested in seeing what would happen if she was implanted.
As I quoted before, “…the witches don’t have magic, not like us. But you, a hybrid of both lines…” (Maas, 495).
And I just remembered another fact. In Heir of Fire, Sarah wrote that “red sprayed” when Marion was killed, as witnessed by a young Aelin. Even though she’s descended from the Ironteeth, she had red blood, not blue. So I gather that witch-blood is in Marion’s bloodline, but somewhere along the way, it was somehow diluted by something, possibly demi/Fae blood.
Obviously, human blood has no effect on witch-blood - but Fae blood, seen with the difference between Crochans and Ironteeth, does.
And so this results in Elide having only “a drop” of witch blood in her veins, and why her blood is red and has no iron teeth or nails.
sidenote: with my theory/some canon text, the whole “first bleeding” thing isn’t plausible, since Marion’s blood is also red, so Elide would’ve been born with red blood. The witches are immortal, and so their first bleeding might not even occur until a very late age in human years because that would be considered young in a witch’s life. Sarah wrote that Elide is “barely past being a witchling” in QoS, when she’s eighteen years old.
*finger guns* had to jump in on the conversation bc i love these witches seriously
- manonslayme понравилось это
Along with this, Crochans also have the ability to do magic, something that their Ironteeth cousins are not capable of. Crochan magic is benevolent in nature, and individual Crochans have been shown using it to make glamours and heal injuries.
Bjork's vocals add layers of complexity to the song, effortlessly conveying the range of emotions portrayed in the lyrics. The song's sound and production also contribute to its overall impact. Bjork is known for her experimental and innovative approach to music, and "Bjork Pagan Poetry" is no exception. The use of electronic and orchestral elements creates a unique and otherworldly atmosphere, further enhancing the spiritual and mystical nature of the song. Overall, "Bjork Pagan Poetry" is a powerful and enchanting song that delves into themes of spirituality, love, and desire. Through its poetic lyrics, emotive vocals, and experimental production, the song has become a fan favorite and a testament to Bjork's artistic vision and talent..
Reviews for "Bjork's 'Pagan Poetry': A Sonic Invocation of the Divine"
1. John - 1/5 stars - "I honestly don't understand the hype surrounding Bjork's song 'Pagan Poetry.' The high-pitched vocals were unbearable to listen to, and the overall melody was chaotic and confusing. It lacked any structure or coherence, making it difficult to connect with the song on any level. I found it to be an unpleasant and frustrating experience. Definitely not my cup of tea."
2. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "While I appreciate Bjork's unique style and artistic expression, 'Pagan Poetry' just didn't do it for me. The song felt disjointed and lacked a clear direction. It seemed like a jumbled mix of random sounds and melodies that failed to create a cohesive composition. Additionally, the unconventional vocal delivery made it hard for me to connect with the lyrics or understand the intended message. Overall, I found the song to be confusing and underwhelming."
3. Michael - 2/5 stars - "Although I see the appeal of Bjork's avant-garde approach to music, 'Pagan Poetry' left me feeling rather cold. The experimental electronic elements felt overdone and overshadowed any potential emotional resonance the song could have had. The erratic changes in tempo and tone made it a frustrating listening experience as it never allowed me to fully immerse myself in the song. I appreciate Bjork's creativity, but this particular track just didn't resonate with me."
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - "I have to admit, I couldn't get through the entire 'Pagan Poetry' song by Bjork. The constant high-pitched vocals were grating to my ears, and the disjointed composition made it difficult to find any rhythm or melody to enjoy. It just felt like a random assortment of sounds rather than a coherent piece of music. I understand and respect Bjork's artistic vision, but unfortunately, this song was not for me."