Florence Welch, PreRaphaelite Fairy Queen

A Taliswomen Short

Original Artwork by the Author

I first heard of her in 2011 — around the time she declared the dog days over. I didn’t quite get it then. I was in a dark place & bitter and I found her energy & hope jarring.

In 2013 my heart stopped when I saw a Vogue feature on her home. Not because of its opulence, but because it was my dream home — old & simple with a lush garden. But Florence’s magic simply pulsed from every space. I never forgot it.

In 2018, Florence released High as Hope & I was overwhelmed. I was still far from being able to hope for much, but her music tore through me.

Just days after I was fired from my horrible job in 2019, my personal annunciation occurred when I fainted at her Red Rocks show. Florence had become my Gabriel.