Mary Oliver Poem #2: "I Happened to be Standing"

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I thoroughly enjoyed Mary Oliver’s reflective poem, “I Happened to be Standing”. Throughout the piece, she ponders the nature of prayers and where they go or what the achieve. She questions whether animals, plants, or even inanimate objects have their own ways of prayer or connecting to something greater in this world. I too have contemplated this sentiment and wondered just what is out there in the universe. Are plants able to communicate with each other and share interpersonal interactions? These unanswerable questions remain present in my mind and lead me to ask countless other existential questions.

Mary Oliver acknowledges the fact that oftentimes, humans go through this world preoccupied with trivial thoughts or concerns and miss the unparalleled beauty of living in the present moment, surrounded by all living organisms. She expresses her dissatisfaction with being consumed by frivolous thoughts as follows:

“I know I can walk through the world, along the shore or under the trees, with my mind filled with things of little importance, in full self-attendance.” (46)

Self-absorption and being caught up in the unimportant little things in life can detach one from being alive and present. Mary Oliver continues to discuss the nature of prayer, showing curiosity on whether prayer is a gift, a request, or if the form of prayer even matters at all. People engage in prayer in diverse ways, whether speaking to the universe, confiding in a religious leader, or having a spiritual connection elsewhere. Mindfulness can be achieved anywhere (even when overlooking a cascade of mountains in Salzburg, Austria as seen below) and there is a vast array of spiritual aspects of life.

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