Pagan Poetry is a 2001 single by Icelandic singer Björk from her fourth studio album Vespertine. It was released on 5 November 2001 and blends baroque pop with darkwave, running 5:17 in its album form. The lyrics, written by Björk, describe the tension between physical pleasure and emotional fulfillment in a romantic relationship, ending with a love that makes her want to hand herself over. Björk crafted the song with music boxes in mind, using see-through plexiglass and a crystalline sound, and the track is written in C sharp minor. The accompanying video, directed by Nick Knight and featuring a bridal Alexander McQueen dress, was controversial and briefly banned by MTV in the United States. The single also charted modestly, reaching number 38 in the UK and number 15 in Canada, with B-sides including Aurora, Domestica and Batabid.
