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 22 May 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 · 2 death anniversaries · 7 world events on 22 May

Birthdays

Death anniversaries

World events on this day

  • 22 May 1960

    The Great Earthquake of 1960 in Valdivia

    On May 22, 1960, the most powerful earthquake ever recorded, with a magnitude of 9.5, struck the city of Valdivia in southern Chile. The quake and the resulting tsunami caused widespread devastation, killing an estimated 1,655 people and leaving millions homeless. The tsunami crossed the Pacific Ocean, causing damage as far away as Japan and Hawaii. This event was a defining moment in the history of seismology and had a profound impact on Chilean society and its relationship with the environment.

    Event 1960

  • 22 May 1998

    Good Friday Agreement Referendums

    On May 22, 1998, referendums were held in both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland on the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement was approved by a large majority of voters in both jurisdictions, with 94% in the Republic and 71% in Northern Ireland voting in favor. The referendums were a crucial step in the implementation of the peace agreement.

    Event 1998

  • 22 May 1453

    Fall of Constantinople Lunar Eclipse

    On May 22, 1453, a partial lunar eclipse (blood moon) occurred during the final siege of Constantinople by Ottoman forces led by Mehmed II, in what is now Istanbul, Turkey. Byzantine defenders and chroniclers viewed the red moon as fulfilling ancient prophecies of the city's doom. The eclipse coincided with the culmination of the Ottoman conquest on May 29, marking the end of the Byzantine Empire and the rise of Ottoman power in Europe and the Middle East.

    Event 1453

  • 22 May 1652

    Mirk Monday Solar Eclipse

    A total solar eclipse path swept directly over Scotland and northern England, causing such an intense and sudden midday darkness that the event became immortalized in local folklore as 'Mirk Monday'. In Edinburgh, Scotland, citizens panicked as birds stopped singing and cattle rushed back to their barns. Coming in the immediate chaotic aftermath of the execution of King Charles I and during Oliver Cromwell's rise, the eclipse was heavily politicized by both Royalists and Covenanters as a sign of God's anger.

    Event 1652

  • 22 May 1819

    SS Savannah Completes First Steam-Assisted Atlantic Crossing

    In 1819, the American steamship SS Savannah completed the first transatlantic voyage partly under steam power, traveling from Savannah, Georgia, to Liverpool in just 29 days. This landmark journey demonstrated the potential of steam technology for ocean travel, paving the way for future advancements in maritime transportation. The SS Savannah's successful crossing marked the beginning of a new era in international shipping and travel.

    Event 1819

  • 22 May 1987

    Rugby World Cup Inaugurated

    The inaugural Rugby World Cup was held in 1987 across New Zealand and Australia, with the All Blacks winning the final against France. Organized by the International Rugby Board, it professionalized the sport and boosted its global popularity. The event symbolized cultural unity and national pride, inspiring sports-themed poetry and narratives celebrating teamwork, resilience, and international competition in Commonwealth nations.

    Event 1987

  • 22 May 1997

    The Great Earthquake of 1997 in Jabalpur

    On May 22, 1997 CE, an earthquake, estimated at magnitude 6.0, struck the city of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, India, causing damage and killing 38 people. This event was a significant disaster for the region and highlighted the seismic risk in central India. The earthquake was a notable event in the country's seismic history.

    Event 1997
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