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 24 February 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

1 birthday · 2 death anniversaries · 6 world events on 24 February

Birthdays

Death anniversaries

World events on this day

  • 24 February 1871

    Publication of 'The Descent of Man' by Charles Darwin

    Charles Darwin published 'The Descent of Man' in 1871, a pivotal work that expanded on his theories of evolution and natural selection. In this book, he explored the biological and social aspects of human evolution, arguing that humans share a common ancestry with other species. This publication not only challenged contemporary views on humanity's place in the natural world but also laid the groundwork for modern evolutionary biology.

    Event 1871

  • 24 February 1389

    Margaret I becomes ruler of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

    On February 24, 1389, Margaret I of Denmark defeated and captured King Albert of Sweden at the Battle of Falköping, making her the effective ruler of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Margaret's victory was a decisive step toward the unification of Scandinavia under a single crown, a goal that would be realized in 1397 with the formation of the Kalmar Union. Margaret's rule marked a period of relative peace and stability in the Nordic region and laid the foundation for a new political order in Northern Europe.

    Event 1389

  • 24 February 1764

    Publication of Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto

    Horace Walpole published The Castle of Otranto in 1764, presenting it initially as a translation of a medieval Italian manuscript. It was the first Gothic novel in English and established the castle — with its subterranean passages, supernatural portents, feudal tyranny, and ancestral guilt — as the defining setting of a new literary mode. The novel was reprinted many times and spawned a vast tradition of imitation across fiction and verse.

    Event 1764

  • 24 February 1987

    Supernova 1987A

    Supernova 1987A, which exploded in the Large Magellanic Cloud in 1987, was the closest observed supernova in centuries and provided a unique opportunity for astronomical study. Its explosion offered insights into stellar evolution and the processes leading to supernovae. The event has significantly advanced our understanding of the life cycles of stars and the dynamics of cosmic explosions.

    Event 1987

  • 24 February 2022

    Russia Invades Ukraine

    The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 marked a significant escalation in geopolitical tensions in Europe. This conflict has resulted in widespread humanitarian crises, economic sanctions, and a reevaluation of security policies among NATO countries. The invasion has not only reshaped the political landscape in Eastern Europe but also prompted global discussions on sovereignty, international law, and the future of international relations.

    Event 2022

  • 24 February 1668

    Swedish Riksbank Founded as First Central Bank

    In 1668, Sweden established the Riksbank, recognized as the world's oldest central bank, to manage currency and government lending. This institution played a crucial role in stabilizing the Swedish economy and influencing monetary policy. The Riksbank's establishment marked a significant development in the evolution of banking and finance, setting a precedent for central banking systems worldwide.

    Event 1668
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