fur
or Christmas dinner,
something swimming under a square of glass.

Here, references to those people (or organisms) that are much “less separate” is a direct indication that Szymborska values her freedom to think and act above all else. The gratitude of the author’s prose makes more sense when we consider the historical milieu in which she experienced her most profound intellectual development. Szymborska lived through the Second World War in Poland, and was required to complete most of her studies in underground, informal classes to avoid being deported as a forced laborer. She was able to avoid much of the hardship and devastation of the war, and began her studies at the University of Krakow after the war's conclusion in 1945. Szymborska generally supported the ideology of the predominantly socialist Polish government, which kept her out of trouble and allowed her to write her poetry free from state censorship or threats of violence. Given this background, and in light of the much more unfortunate circumstances that befell her colleagues and fellow countrymen, it makes sense that Szymborska would have been grateful of her opportunity to live a relatively peaceful life while following her intellectual pursuits

The title of the poem references nineteenth-century American poet Walt Whitman. In addition to writing a poem titled “Among the Multitude,” Whitman included the line “I am large, I contain multitudes” in his poem “Song of Myself.” In the last stanza, the line “I might have been myself minus amazement” may also reference Whitman’s title. Similarly, the phrase “grass blade” echoes the title of Whitman anthology “Leaves of Grass.” Overall, the poem’s emphasis on individuality resonates with Whitman’s themes.

Wisława Szymborska, who was Polish, emphasizes individuality through the speaker’s comparing themself to animals and plants as well as other kinds of people. Rather than attribute their success in life to any personality traits, they state that they are “fortunate,” placing their faith in “coincidence” and “fate.” Individuality is also explored through contrast to natural phenomena in groups or large units, such a “swarm” and “landscape.” The speaker also mentions they are not part of “the wrong tribe.”

Her emphasis on the individual also may reference her shifting political positions within Poland, as she moved into standing with the dissidents and away from endorsing official communism.

The poet’s figurative language includes an extended metaphor about clothing. She uses “Nature’s wardrobe” and “costumes” as metaphors for animal types—“spider, seagull, fieldmouse”—and extends the metaphor into speaking about how the costumes “fit” and become “worn into shreds.”

More than anything, the poem can be seen as a celebration of individuality. The speaker doesn't dwell on all the numerous imperfections of her life; on the contrary, she affirms them as part of what it means to be human. She doesn't lament the fact that she had no choice in being what she is; instead, she thinks of what she might have been had fate not been so kind to her.

That's why she expresses such profound gratitude for not being an animal bred for fur or slaughtered for the Christmas dinner table. Even as another human, there could easily have been so many problems in her life. She might have been born into the wrong tribe, with so many paths in life closed to her.

In celebrating herself for what she is, the speaker counts all her blessings, giving thanks to fate for being so incredibly kind to her. Fate can always change, of course, but one senses that, whatever happens, the speaker will always retain a sense of amazement, which will stand her in good stead whatever life may throw at her.