Metta is the first of the four Brahma Viharas (divine abodes) and a cornerstone of Buddhist ethics. In poetry, it radiates as warmth, light, or boundless space—extending from self to stranger to enemy. Poets use metta to counter hatred and fear, portraying it as an active, inclusive love that dissolves boundaries and heals the world.

Metta is the Pali term for loving-kindness, a core Buddhist virtue and meditation practice. It is the first of the Four Brahmaviharas (Divine Abodes). Metta meditation involves systematically cultivating a mind of unconditional friendliness and well-wishing towards oneself and all other beings without discrimination. It is the antidote to fear and ill-will and is considered a foundational practice for achieving deeper states of concentration and insight.