In the Beginning by Ruth Collie
"In the Beginning" by Ruth Collie opens with an extended botanical metaphor establishing the work's central thesis: that meaningful growth and virtue develop silently, through unseen effort, before ever being announced or explained in words. The poem describes a seed's transformation—roots striking deep, rain and sun nourishing it, a shoot emerging with two green leaves, and growth proceeding hour by hour until a flower finally blooms in full glory—all accomplished without a single word being spoken. This natural process becomes the model for human conduct: the poem argues that good impulses, like seeds, should be allowed to take root in "rich soil" and blossom through quiet, sustained effort rather than through declarations or explanations offered in advance. The poem then turns this observation into a moral exhortation, praying for the strength to live according to this principle. It draws a distinction between deeds and words, insisting that words have their proper place only after action—as a graceful accompaniment to good deeds already done, comparable to the "sun's exquisite farewell hue," the beautiful afterglow that follows the sun's actual work of shining. Genuine service, the poem suggests, earns its "just meed" (reward) through what is done, not what is said in anticipation of doing it. This builds to the poem's guiding creed, stated directly: "First, we will act." Action must precede speech; words should draw their life and legitimacy from good already accomplished, not the reverse. The poem closes by returning to imagery of light, comparing words that follow right action to rays reflected from the sun—deeds are figured as the primary spiritual light source, and words as its secondary reflection, deriving their brightness from the deeds that generated them. Structurally and thematically, the piece functions as a short devotional or inspirational meditation, likely part of a longer collection given its title suggests it opens a larger work. Its argument is unified and singular: silent, patient, deed-first living is superior to talk that precedes or substitutes for action, and true eloquence is the natural byproduct of virtue already enacted rather than virtue merely promised or described.
By Ruth Collie · First published 1925 · Genre: Poetry, Inspirational Literature, Philosophical Literature