Introspection
Mandelstam seems to prefer the poetic in conjunction with isolation. He indulges introspective moods as he muses about his life and the world around him. In poems like "Yet to die. Unalone still" he wonders about the distinctions people make between themselves and others. Examining his own relationship to death and existence, Mandelstam believes that he is continuously connecting to the people around him. His internal experience of self both informs and profits from his experience of the external world so that his self-expression becomes a method by which he reaches out to other people, to draw them into relationship and creation.
Meditation on the Now
In his poetry, Mandelstam is a master of observing the present moment. He does not outright describe this as meditation, but in Buddhist tradition the perfect observance of time passing is the purest form of meditation. Mandelstam writes poems like "What Shall I Do With This Body They Gave Me" as detailed observations of individual moments. He observes how pleasant it feels to breath in and out. He notes the warmth of his breath and the pattern of his physical processes. In listening to his body, he feels a sort of comfort and intimacy of experiencing a sensation so perfectly individual and personal.
Seeking Enlightenment
With a constant emphasis on upward mobility, Mandelstam demonstrates a preoccupation with finding enlightenment, without so many words. This idea is reflected in upward-looking imagery in several of his poems. For instance "Alone I stare into the frost's white face" describes looking up at the blinding sun as it reflects and glitters on the falling snow. And again in "Insomnia. Homer. Taut canvas" he gazes up at the cranes in an industrial yard, musing about their resemblance to ancient figures and grandiose conflicts. Finally the moon sets the tone for "Brothers, let us glorify freedom's twilight," both figuratively and literally. Mandelstam often depicts his looking upward, directing his thought and aspirations on some higher source, which eclipses human experience and the identification with the ego.
