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


On 17 December in poetry and history

Poets born or who died on this date, plus historical events that happened on this day across history.

610 poets with calendar dates · 6,535 events with calendar dates in the catalogue

Previous Today Next

3 birthdays · 3 death anniversaries · 12 world events on 17 December

Birthdays

Death anniversaries

World events on this day

  • 17 December 1903

    Wright Brothers Achieve First Powered Flight Using Wind Tunnel Research

    On 17 December 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the world's first successful sustained powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA — a location chosen specifically for its reliable and strong coastal winds. The brothers' breakthrough depended critically on their home-built wind tunnel in Dayton, Ohio, in which they tested over 200 wing profiles to determine optimal aerodynamic shapes. The 12-second first flight, and the longer flights that followed the same day, began the age of powered aviation and fundamentally transformed human relationships with distance, speed, and the atmospheric environment.

    Event 1903

  • 17 December 1938

    Discovery of Nuclear Fission

    The discovery of nuclear fission in 1938 by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, with theoretical explanation by Lise Meitner, fundamentally changed the field of nuclear physics. By splitting uranium atoms, they revealed the potential for releasing vast amounts of energy, which would later lead to the development of nuclear power and atomic weapons. This groundbreaking discovery not only advanced scientific understanding but also had profound implications for global geopolitics and warfare in the 20th century. The ability to harness nuclear energy has since shaped energy policies and international relations.

    Event 1938

  • 17 December 1903

    Wright Brothers' First Powered Flight

    American bicycle mechanics Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first sustained, controlled powered flight at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, United States. Their Flyer aircraft remained airborne for twelve seconds covering 120 feet, proving heavier-than-air flight was possible through careful aerodynamic design and lightweight engine construction. This modest beginning initiated aviation's rapid development, transforming transportation, warfare, and human spatial perception within decades.

    Event 1903

  • 17 December 1510

    Afonso de Albuquerque conquers Goa

    In 1510, Portuguese admiral Afonso de Albuquerque captured Goa, a strategic port on the western coast of India. This conquest established Goa as the capital of the Portuguese Empire in the East, facilitating trade and the spread of Christianity in the region. The capture of Goa was significant as it marked the beginning of Portuguese colonial dominance in Asia, influencing local cultures and economies for centuries.

    Event 1510

  • 17 December 1905

    Wright Flyer III Development

    In 1905, the Wright brothers developed the Flyer III, the first practical airplane capable of sustained controlled flights. This innovation represented a significant leap in aviation technology, demonstrating the feasibility of powered flight. The success of the Flyer III laid the foundation for the future of aviation, transforming transportation and connecting the world in unprecedented ways.

    Event 1905

  • 17 December 1914

    Harrison Narcotics Act Signed

    President Woodrow Wilson signed the Harrison Narcotics Act on December 17, 1914, committing the U.S. federal government to combating the domestic drug trade. The act required registration and taxation of those who dispensed opiates and cocaine, effectively banning their nonmedical use and marking the beginning of the modern U.S. 'war on drugs,' which federalized drug enforcement.

    Event 1914

  • 17 December 1935

    First Flight of the Douglas DC-3

    The Douglas DC-3, a fixed-wing propeller-driven airliner, first flew on December 17, 1935. It revolutionized the airline industry by making passenger travel profitable and safe, becoming one of the most significant aircraft in history. Its design was so successful that many remain in use today, representing the durability of good engineering.

    Event 1935

  • 17 December 1398

    Timur Destroys Delhi

    Turco-Mongol conqueror Timur (Tamerlane) sacked Delhi in December 1398, massacring inhabitants and carrying off enormous wealth and artisans to Samarkand. This invasion severely weakened the Delhi Sultanate and contributed to political fragmentation in northern India. Timur's campaigns across Central Asia, Persia, and India caused widespread destruction while also transferring skilled workers and cultural treasures to his capital.

    Event 1398

  • 17 December 1627

    Aurochs Final Extinction in Poland

    The final extinction of the aurochs in Poland in 1627 marked the end of a species that was the ancestor of domestic cattle. Habitat loss due to agriculture and relentless hunting contributed to their demise, reflecting the broader environmental changes of the time. The extinction of the aurochs serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of human activity on wildlife and ecosystems.

    Event 1627

  • 17 December 1631

    The Great Earthquake of 1631 in Naples

    On December 17, 1631 CE, a major eruption of Mount Vesuvius was accompanied by a significant earthquake that struck the city of Naples and the surrounding region in Italy. The earthquake and eruption caused widespread destruction and loss of life. This event was a major disaster for the Kingdom of Naples and is one of the most famous volcanic eruptions in history.

    Event 1631

  • 17 December 2018

    Samoan Pe'a Tradition Recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage

    In 2018, UNESCO added the traditional Samoan pe'a and malu tattooing practices — along with those of the neighbouring Tokelau islands — to its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, formally recognising these living body art traditions as expressions of cultural identity worthy of international protection. The inscription acknowledged the pe'a's role as a comprehensive marker of Samoan identity, genealogy, and community values transmitted through an unbroken chain of master tattooists (tufuga ta tatau) across centuries. This international recognition marked a significant moment in the global acknowledgement of body modification as serious cultural heritage.

    Event 2018

  • 17 December 1855

    Final Years and Legacy

    In 1855, Samuel Rogers passed away in London, leaving behind a rich legacy as both a poet and a patron of the arts. His contributions to English literature and his role in fostering the Romantic movement were widely recognized. Rogers's influence continued to be felt in the literary community long after his death, as his works remained in circulation.

    Event 1855
Skip to main content