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 18 November 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

2 birthdays · 4 death anniversaries · 8 world events on 18 November

Birthdays

Death anniversaries

World events on this day

  • 18 November 1476

    First English Book Printed by Caxton

    William Caxton established the first English printing press in Westminster in 1476, marking a pivotal moment in the history of literature and communication. The printing press enabled the mass production of books, making literature more accessible to the public and fostering a culture of reading. Caxton's work laid the foundation for the English literary tradition and the spread of ideas during the Renaissance.

    Event 1476

  • 18 November 1083

    Establishment of the University of Bologna

    In 1083, the University of Bologna was established, becoming one of the first universities in the world. Located in Bologna, Italy, it became a center for higher learning, particularly in law and the humanities. This institution played a significant role in the intellectual revival of Europe during the Middle Ages, fostering a culture of scholarship and education.

    Event 1083

  • 18 November 1095

    Council of Clermont

    Pope Urban II delivered the sermon at the Council of Clermont in France that launched the First Crusade, promising spiritual rewards to those who took up arms for the faith. This event marked a shift in the relationship between the papacy and secular rulers and established the concept of holy war in Christian thought. The speech, though not recorded verbatim, became iconic in Christian history and literature.

    Event 1095

  • 18 November 1659

    Molière's Les Précieuses ridicules Premieres

    Molière's Les Précieuses ridicules premiered in Paris in 1659 and made his reputation as a comic dramatist. The play satirised fashionable salon language and social pretension. It emerged from a culture in which conversation, wit and performance shaped literary status.

    Event 1659

  • 18 November 1920

    Russian Bolshevik Decriminalization of Abortion

    In 1920, the Russian Bolshevik government decriminalized abortion on request, a progressive policy aimed at promoting women's rights and workforce participation. This move was part of a broader agenda to modernize society and improve women's health and social standing. The policy was significant in the context of early Soviet reforms, reflecting a commitment to gender equality and influencing reproductive rights discussions worldwide.

    Event 1920

  • 18 November 1978

    Jonestown Massacre

    The Jonestown Massacre on November 18, 1978, was a tragic event in which over 900 members of the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, died in a mass murder-suicide in Guyana. This incident drew international attention to the dangers of cults and the psychological manipulation of followers. The massacre raised awareness about the need for vigilance against extremist groups and the importance of mental health support.

    Event 1978

  • 18 November 1992

    COBE Satellite CMB Measurements

    The COBE satellite, launched in 1989, made significant measurements of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, confirming the blackbody spectrum and revealing anisotropies in the early universe. These findings provided crucial evidence for the Big Bang theory and enhanced our understanding of cosmic evolution. The COBE mission marked a milestone in cosmology, influencing subsequent research and shaping our comprehension of the universe's origins.

    Event 1992

  • 18 November 1755

    The Great Earthquake of 1755 in Cape Ann

    On November 18, 1755 CE, an earthquake struck the Cape Ann region of Massachusetts, in the American colonies. The quake, estimated at magnitude 5.9, caused significant damage to buildings and was felt over a wide area. This event was one of the most significant earthquakes in the history of New England and is a notable example of seismic activity in the region.

    Event 1755
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