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.

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 19 August 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

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1 birthday · 1 death anniversary · 5 world events on 19 August

Birthdays

Death anniversaries

World events on this day

  • 19 August 1936

    Execution of Federico García Lorca

    On August 19, 1936, the great Spanish poet Federico García Lorca was executed by Nationalist forces near Granada, Andalusia, at the age of 38. Lorca, a Republican sympathizer and one of Spain's most beloved poets, was arrested by Falangist militiamen and shot without trial, his body thrown into an unmarked grave. His murder, one of the most infamous atrocities of the Spanish Civil War, sent shockwaves through the literary world and became a symbol of the barbarity of the Nationalist forces.

    Event 1936

  • 19 August 480 BC

    Battle of Thermopylae

    In 480 BC, the Battle of Thermopylae became a legendary confrontation between a small Greek force led by Spartan King Leonidas and the massive Persian army of Xerxes. Despite being vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held their ground for three days, showcasing extraordinary bravery and tactical skill. This battle became a symbol of resistance against tyranny and inspired future generations in the fight for freedom.

    Event 480 BC

  • 19 August 1274

    Coronation of Edward I

    The coronation of Edward I in 1274 was a pivotal moment in English history, as he ascended to the throne with ambitions to consolidate and expand English control, particularly in Wales. His reign is noted for military campaigns and legal reforms, which significantly shaped the political landscape of Britain. Edward's efforts to integrate Wales into his kingdom laid the groundwork for future conflicts and territorial disputes.

    Event 1274

  • 19 August 1047

    Battle of Stiklestad

    The Battle of Stiklestad took place in Norway and marked a pivotal moment in the Christianization of Scandinavia. This conflict saw King Harald Hardrada's forces clash with a peasant army led by Olaf Haraldsson, who sought to reclaim his throne. The battle ultimately resulted in Olaf's death, which further solidified the spread of Christianity in the region and influenced the cultural landscape of Norway.

    Event 1047

  • 19 August 1987

    Hungerford Massacre

    The Hungerford Massacre occurred on August 19, 1987, when Michael Ryan killed 16 people in Hungerford, Berkshire, before taking his own life. This tragic event shocked the United Kingdom and raised significant concerns about gun control and public safety. The massacre led to changes in firearm legislation, including the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, which restricted the ownership of semi-automatic weapons in the UK.

    Event 1987
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