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 8 October 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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2 birthdays · 2 death anniversaries · 6 world events on 8 October

Birthdays

Death anniversaries

World events on this day

  • 8 October 451

    Council of Chalcedon

    The Council of Chalcedon (modern Turkey) defined the orthodox Christology of the Christian church, affirming that Christ is one person in two natures, 'without confusion, without change, without division, without separation.' This formulation rejected both Nestorianism and Eutychianism and established the parameters of Christological orthodoxy for most Christian traditions. Chalcedon remains a touchstone for Christian theological identity.

    Event 451

  • 8 October 1829

    George Stephenson's 'Rocket' Wins the Rainhill Trials

    George Stephenson's locomotive 'Rocket' won the Rainhill Trials held in Rainhill, near Liverpool, England, a competition to determine the best locomotive for the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway. The 'Rocket', with its multi-tubular boiler, demonstrated unprecedented speed and reliability. This victory established the standard design for future steam locomotives and confirmed the viability of inter-city rail travel.

    Event 1829

  • 8 October 1956

    Opening of the First Fully Enclosed Suburban Shopping Mall

    The opening of the first fully enclosed suburban shopping mall, Southdale Center, in Edina, Minnesota, in 1956 revolutionized retail. Designed by architect Victor Gruen, this climate-controlled space became a template for future malls, emphasizing convenience and consumer experience. The mall's design reflected changing social dynamics, as it catered to the growing suburban population and altered shopping habits in America.

    Event 1956

  • 8 October 1956

    Southdale Center Opens

    The Southdale Center opened in 1956 in Edina, Minnesota, as the first fully enclosed, climate-controlled shopping mall. This innovative design transformed the retail landscape, providing a comfortable shopping environment year-round. The concept of the shopping mall became a defining feature of American consumer culture, influencing urban development and social interactions.

    Event 1956

  • 8 October 2005

    The Great Earthquake of 2005 in Kashmir

    On October 8, 2005, a catastrophic earthquake, estimated at magnitude 7.6, struck the mountainous region of Kashmir, affecting Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan. The quake caused widespread destruction, killing an estimated 86,000 people and leaving millions homeless. The disaster was particularly severe in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, where entire villages were destroyed by landslides. The event led to a massive international humanitarian response and highlighted the seismic risk and political complexities of the region.

    Event 2005

  • 8 October 1871

    Great Chicago Fire

    On October 8, 1871, a massive fire broke out in Chicago, Illinois, burning for two days and destroying much of the city's downtown. The fire killed approximately 300 people and left 100,000 homeless, causing an estimated $200 million in damages. The disaster prompted a massive rebuilding effort that transformed Chicago into a modern metropolis and a center of American industry and culture.

    Event 1871
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