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 J

jo

Dialect
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

Jo is a Scottish dialect term, primarily used in poetry and song, meaning a sweetheart, lover, dear, or darling.

Detailed Definition
In Scottish literature, particularly in the works of Robert Burns and traditional Scots poetry, "jo" serves as an affectionate term of endearment addressed to a loved one, often a spouse or romantic partner. It conveys intimacy, fondness, and enduring affection, frequently evoking the warmth of longstanding relationships that weather the passage of time. The word adds a lyrical, colloquial flavor to verse, grounding elevated sentiments of love in everyday Scots speech. While it most commonly refers to a romantic "joy" or beloved, it can extend to anyone dear to the speaker, though romantic usage predominates in poetic contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
From Robert Burns' poem "John Anderson, My Jo" (a tender address from a wife to her aging husband): "John Anderson, my jo, John, When we were first acquent, Your locks were like the raven, Your bonnie brow was brent; But now your brow is beld, John, Your locks are like the snaw; But blessings on your frosty pow, John Anderson, my jo!" Here, the repeated "my jo" underscores lifelong companionship and enduring love despite physical changes.
Additional Notes
Historical context or origin: "Jo" is a Scots variant of the English word "joy," dating back to at least the 16th century. It appears frequently in Scottish ballads and songs, with Burns popularizing it through his adaptations of traditional material. Related terms or variations: Often spelled "joe" or "jo"; related endearments in Scots include "lass," "lad," "hinny," or "dearie." It contrasts with more formal English terms like "beloved" by its earthy, dialectal warmth. Common usage tips or pitfalls: Use "jo" sparingly in modern English poetry to evoke Scottish flavor or historical voice—overuse can feel archaic or stereotypical. It works best in direct address within rhyming or song-like structures. Etymology: Derived from "joy," originally implying a source of delight or happiness in a person. This entry fits the "Scottish" category for poetry glossaries, highlighting dialectal terms that enrich regional literary traditions.
Also Known As
sweetheart darling beloved belovèd
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