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 D

defilade

Military
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

Defilade refers to a Military position or formation that is shielded from enemy fire by natural or artificial cover, such as hills or walls.

Detailed Definition
Defilade is a tactical term used in Military strategy to describe a position that is protected from enemy observation and fire, typically by terrain features like hills, ridges, or constructed barriers. This positioning allows troops to avoid direct attacks while still being able to engage the enemy effectively. Understanding defilade is crucial for planning defensive maneuvers, as it maximizes safety and effectiveness in combat situations.
Example
Example in poetry:
In a Military-themed poem, a line might read: "Beneath the hill's embrace, we lay in defilade, watching the enemy's advance, unseen and unafraid." This illustrates how soldiers use natural terrain to shield themselves from danger while preparing for action.
Additional Notes
Defilade has its origins in Military terminology and is often used in discussions of battlefield tactics. Related terms include "cover" and "concealment," though cover specifically refers to protection from fire, while concealment refers to hiding from view. A common pitfall is confusing defilade with simple cover; defilade specifically implies a strategic advantage in positioning. Understanding the concept of defilade can enhance the depiction of Military scenarios in poetry, allowing for more vivid imagery and tension.
Also Known As
Cover Protection Shelter Concealment Masking Reverse Slope Hull-down (for armored vehicles) Dead Ground (positional context)
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