A quiet notice V2Melody closes at midnight on , Spanish time.

Closes

A note from Richard

V2Melody will close at midnight on 20 January 2028

This site has been a retirement project in musical poetry: poems chosen with care and set to music, offered freely for as long as it felt right to keep the garden open.

The work no longer holds the place it once did in my life. I have gone as far with it as I wish to go. Like a sand mandala, it was made to be completed and then released. I am not attached to its permanence, and I do not believe any of it needs to last beyond the time it was given. The poems were already here before I arrived and began to experiment with them. They will still be here when these musical experiments, and indeed myself, have been swept away, like the sand of a mandala. Nothing has been lost.

I want a simpler end to my life, days of simple love and enjoyment with my wonderful wife of 20 years. The work of maintaining a server, the monitoring, and the residual obligations that come with keeping a site alive no longer fit that life.

From 4 November 2026 I will not be adding new poems or musical poems to the site.

The experimental music I am making now is on my Suno profile. Those pieces stay there, and are not added to this site.

Until midnight on 20 January 2028, Spanish time, everything remains available exactly as it is. That is when my VPS server contract comes to an end, and it will not be renewed. After that, the server will be switched off and the site will disappear.

The Mandala Is Finished explains this more fully.

Thank you to anyone who found a poem, a track, or a quiet moment here.

The pleasure was in the making.

Richard

Home › Glossary › Letter A

Aries

Astrology
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The first fire sign of the zodiac, symbolized by the ram, associated with initiative and courage.

Detailed Definition
Aries: As the first sign of the zodiac, Aries embodies beginnings, assertiveness, and raw energy. Ruled by Mars, it represents the spark of creation and the warrior archetype. In poetry, Aries often symbolizes bold new ventures, impulsive action, or the primal urge to lead. Poets invoke Aries to convey themes of courage, independence, or the fiery onset of spring—mirroring the sign’s association with dawn and renewal. Its cardinal fire nature makes it a potent symbol for ignition, both literal and metaphorical, in lyrical and narrative verse.
Example
Example in poetry:
In Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” Aries’ fiery impulsivity mirrors the rash decisions of young lovers; Percy Bysshe Shelley’s “Ode to the West Wind” channels Aries’ pioneering spirit through calls for revolutionary change; Rainer Maria Rilke associates Aries with the courage to begin anew in “The Book of Hours”; Modern poets liken Aries to the first spark of spring—bold, raw, and unrefined; In astrological poetry, Aries is often the ram charging through darkness toward dawn; Poets use Aries to embody leadership, aggression, and the primal urge to initiate.
Additional Notes
Aries (March 21–April 19) is the first fire sign, ruled by Mars, symbolizing initiation, courage, and raw impulse. As a cardinal sign, Aries launches new cycles—often associated with spring’s first burst. In poetry, Aries appears as the warrior, pioneer, or spark of creation. Its shadow includes impulsivity and aggression. Useful for poets exploring themes of birth, conflict, or self-assertion. Related: 1st House (self-identity), Mars archetype, and the Ram of Greek myth (Golden Fleece).
Also Known As
The Ram Arian Ram
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