It happened slowly—
so slowly the morning
didn’t notice.
A faint hush,
a shift in the coolness,
a thought the air tried to hide.
The purple dawn
did not arrive;
it seeped—
like a secret deciding
to become light.
On the cherry trees,
the first touch
was not colour,
but a tremor—
a soft remembering
of something they had once loved
in another season.
Petals loosened,
as if an old ache
had finally agreed
to open.
And in that quiet change,
your presence moved through me
the same way—
a warmth without shape,
a closeness without steps,
a beginning without declaration.
What the purple dawn did to them
you do to me:
you deepen the stillness
until it becomes
breath,
then longing,
then something
I cannot name
but cannot let go.
Even now,
when the day grows louder,
I carry that moment—
a soft, hidden bloom
at the edge of light,
waiting to unfurl
whenever you return.
- Emmanuel Mettles
Emmanuel Mettles is a highly accomplished individual born in Kerala, India. She holds postgraduate degrees in English, Sanskrit, and Psychology (Social and Health). Currently, she works as a clinical psychologist in Telangana State, India. As a multilingual poet, her work appears in various periodicals, showcasing her linguistic versatility.
Mettles has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious Kavyakoumudi award from Telangana Sahitya Akademy. She's a co-author of 59 English poetry anthologies published globally and has published five books of her own. Additionally, she's a talented visual artist. Her achievements are a testament to her dedication and passion for literature and art.
