“Dormant”-Poem & Analysis

The term “dormant” refers to a state of rest or inactivity. When something is dormant, it is temporarily inactive or not actively showing its usual characteristics or functions. The term now is used to describe the human’s dark side which refers to the potential for negative or harmful behaviors and emotions that lie within each individual. This dark side can include impulses toward aggression, anger and other destructive emotions and actions, which may stem from stress and pressure, past trauma, personal betrayal, and so on . However, for the majority of people, these dark tendencies remain dormant until certain factors or circumstances awaken them.

This poem was written from a perspective of person targeted and perceived as mild-mannered and docile, but reveals a hidden side, and force to be reckoned with. This analysis focuses on accepting and embracing the duality and complexity of one’s nature and how channeling it can be a powerful step towards achieving inner peace. It will also attempt to enlighten oppressors how false sense of security can lead to dire repercussions and underestimating and pushing individuals beyond those limits can trigger unexpected reactions.

                                                                                                                 Internal Conflict

Instead of suppressing or denying the dark side, acknowledging its existence and learning to work with it can lead to a more balanced and integrated sense of self. Keeping one’s dark side dormant can be a complex and challenging task, akin to the internal struggles of the Hulk and Bruce Banner. It’s a constant battle between conflicting emotions and impulses, where maintaining balance becomes crucial. Like the fictional Hulk, whose incredible power comes with the potential for great destruction, individuals with such internal conflicts may possess immense capabilities but also bear the responsibility of managing their emotions to prevent harm.

Another analogy of a conscience being like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde captures the duality of human nature, representing the internal conflicts that can arise within an individual. Similarly, a conscience can manifest as moral dilemmas, where two “wits” or aspects of one’s mind collide. These inner struggles can involve ethical considerations, decisions about right and wrong, and the desire to uphold certain values or principles. This kind of restraint can be seen as both a gift and a curse. On the one hand, having the ability to stay diplomatic and composed in difficult situations can be a valuable asset, enabling one to navigate sensitive matters with finesse. However, it can also be burdensome to carry the weight of such inner turmoil, always aware that a sudden switch in emotions might lead to unintended consequences.

                                                                                                             False Sense Of Security

This paragraph is directed towards bullies, tormentors, oppressors, intimidators, or whatever labels describes a person who habitually seeks to harm or cause menace to individuals they perceive as weak. For the moment, I’ll attempt to display extreme scenarios as a catalyst to illustrate potential outcomes of maintaining a toxic behavioral pattern to create awareness and promote reflection among oppressors. By presenting them with vivid details, it can possibly serve as a wake-up call to the consequences of their actions and the impact they have on others.

The workplace should ideally be a safe and respectful environment where employees can perform their duties without fear of mental or emotional torment. Unfortunately in the real world, there are frequent instances where supervisors or managers abuse their authority and create oppressive conditions for their subordinates. Employees may have already expressed their concerns about the oppressive behavior to higher-ups or human resources, but the situation is not being taken seriously and remains unresolved or gets worse. The fear of losing one’s job while facing mistreatment or other adverse circumstances in the workplace and the potential impact on their family’s well-being can be overwhelming and may indeed inspire an individual to contemplate drastic actions.

“Foolish minds advance with assumptions, of me being powerless to explode with volcanic eruptions.”

Tormentors fail to realize that human beings possess survival instincts that can come into play when faced with threats or extreme situations. In situations where individuals feel cornered or threatened, their fight-or-flight response, which is part of our primal instincts, may be activated. This response is an innate physiological and psychological reaction to perceived danger and can lead to actions that are geared towards self-preservation, resorting to violence or aggressive behavior. And depending on the severity of overwhelming factors such as ongoing workplace stress and personal hardships, not all individuals will be tempered with rational thought, ethical considerations, and respect for the rule of law.

“Trauma caused my mind to form a twisted division, conflicted with visions
a mission has risen to choose-
brass knuckle, sharp knife or loaded gun- decisions, decisions
consequences could have me sitting in prison”.

This disturbing quote from verse 2 was not meant to glorify nor promote violence but rather raise awareness to opressors towards a mindset that can develop from enduring frequent toxic behaviors by comtemplating various options. The quiet ones may have accumulated patience, but once it’s exhausted, they may respond firmly or decisively. Humble people are often characterized by their modesty, empathy, and respect for others. They don’t feel the need to assert themselves aggressively or dominate others to feel secure in their identity. However, beneath this calm and collected surface, a humble person may carry deep emotions and convictions. They might feel nervous or anxious when provoked because they are aware of the powerful emotions that can emerge if pushed too far. Their restraint is not a sign of weakness but rather a conscious choice to maintain harmony and avoid unnecessary conflict.

“It’s pitiful how your reaction is judged, outside lookers hold a passionate grudge,
but no one considers to question what triggered you”.

Reacting intensely to a situation can be a manifestation of accumulated stress, emotional pain, trauma, or other unresolved issues that the person may be experiencing, yet it is easy for outside observers to judge the person without fully grasping the underlying triggers and circumstances that led to the loss of control. Often, such judgments are based on false narratives or surface-level assumptions.

                                                                                                              Setting Boundaries

Boundaries are guidelines that individuals set for themselves to determine what behaviors, actions, and interactions are acceptable or unacceptable from others. For humble individuals, setting boundaries can be particularly important, as they might be more inclined to avoid conflicts or tolerate negative behaviors from others. However, allowing unhealthy behaviors to persist can lead to increased stress, emotional distress, and a negative impact on mental health.

In a sense, we are unconsciously enabling the beast within by suppressing our emotions and unresolved issues. A buildup of negative emotions like anger can act as fuel for the internal “beast” or darker side within us. When emotions like anger, frustration, or resentment are left unchecked and allowed to accumulate over time, they can intensify and create a volatile emotional state. The more fuel these emotions receive, the more power they gain, and the more challenging it becomes to keep them under control. If it continues to fester without being addressed, they can eventually reach a breaking point, leading to an emotional implosion or outburst. The internal turmoil that was seemingly under control can erupt uncontrollably, causing havoc in both personal and interpersonal aspects of life.

Toxic individuals may persist in their harmful behaviors if they believe they can get away with them or if they face no consequences for their actions. In such cases, it can become necessary to take assertive action, even if it means momentarily acting out of character, to address the situation and find closure. “Nipping things in the bud” refers to addressing and resolving an issue at its early stages before it escalates further. Taking timely action can prevent the situation from worsening and can be a way to protect yourself and others from further harm.

                                                                                                             GAME OF CHESS: My Move

The most persistent challenges I face in my life revolve around sustaining my livelihood within a toxic work environment. Over the years, I’ve consistently encountered corrupt management that has turned my work life into a living nightmare. It has required a significant mental effort to devise creative strategies for retaining my job while steering clear of confrontations. Even when I firmly believed I was in the right during numerous encounters, I am constantly confronted with the reality that obtaining positive results can be anything but straightforward when dealing with corporate entities that have ingrained systems intended to facilitate and endorse unethical behavior.

This passage encourages a thoughtful and measured approach to life’s challenges and interactions, emphasizing the importance of self-control, and patience. The use of chess as a metaphor for strategic thinking and decision-making underscores the importance of calculating your moves and thinking several steps ahead to outsmart opponents. Following a series of learning experiences that raised my stress levels and frequently left me unemployed, I had at last uncovered an effective approach that has produced a positive outcome. I would like to now share my journey to illustrate this transformation and how I overcame adversity by using my wit without succumbing to violence.

In the intricate game of chess, my experience mirrors the challenges I faced in the workplace. It began with a new supervisor taking over, akin to a chessboard reset. The department, previously mismanaged, represented the chaotic starting position. Initially, I, along with my colleagues, craved effective leadership like a player yearns for a strong opening move. However, I remained skeptical of the changes, much like a cautious chess player, aware that an ill-conceived move can lead to disaster.

As the game unfolded, the new supervisor’s tactics became apparent, and I found myself on the wrong end of favoritism, analogous to losing key pieces in chess. I often felt marginalized and undervalued, and this seemed deliberate rather than coincidental, reminiscent of a pawn’s role in the game. I voiced my concerns of unfairness privately, symbolizing the additional responsibilities piled upon me, under the pretext of workload balance. But I concealed my emotions and observed the board to assess the situation’s trajectory. I recognized a pattern: my supervisor’s selective enforcement of rules, just as certain moves were overlooked while others were strictly scrutinized in the game. The subtle harassment I endured in the workplace paralleled the pressure one feels in a chess match when the opponent relentlessly attacks.

It reached a climax when my supervisor attempted to bait while berating me, mirroring a critical moment when one must defend their position under pressure. My workplace experience unfolded as a strategic battle as it commenced with my first move, akin to a pawn’s initial step, when I reported a recent confrontation with my supervisor to the HR director. Instead of hastily moving forward by providing a written statement as requested, I chose to retreat and prepare my response, avoiding the pitfalls of submitting it while distraught and under duress. Over the weekend, I composed a passionate and articulate letter which served as my opening gambit, painting a vivid picture of the trials I had endured over several months under the oppressive leadership of my supervisor.

Upon returning to work, I delivered my statement to HR. When my report was reviewed, it echoed like a well-executed chess tactic, causing a shockwave within the company. My words held undeniable evidence with key phrases that could not be dismissed. The company reacted by initiating an immediate investigation into my supervisor’s actions, resembling a series of moves designed to gain control over the board. The following day, the upper management played their own strategic move by taking proactive steps to mitigate the situation by meeting with me personally to prevent escalation to potential legal actions. They attempted to manipulate and gaslight me, much like a chess opponent trying to sow doubt in their adversary’s mind. However, I stood firm, fully aware of the impact my statement had created, and had nothing else to prove.

Kindness is only perceived as weakness to a person whose strength is manipulation. My intuition leads me to believe that my supervisor served as a mere pawn, carrying out actions sanctioned and directed by the upper management in their quest to maintain control over certain individuals they deemed “problematic”. However, they underestimated and wrongly perceived a reserved individual like myself as weak and did not foresee this powerful backlash. When someone keeps poking the bear, it causes the beast to awaken from its hibernation. At times, it becomes necessary to craft illusions of vulnerability, allowing our adversaries to gain overconfidence, and thereby disrupting their strategies, all the while preparing to reveal our true strength when the opportune moment arises. And it was particularly remarkable to observe that in the midst of this struggle, the power of the pen proved to be mightier than the sword.

Consequently, my supervisor underwent an investigation, received a reprimand, and faced increased scrutiny regarding his actions towards me. From that point onward, he was forced to tread carefully in his dealings with me, mirroring a chess player carefully considering each move to avoid exposing their position to attack. The battle had reached a critical juncture, and I had endured losses by absorbing hurtful blows from unfair treatment, and initiated the necessary actions to rectify the situation. The outcome, in my story, was a resounding CHECKMATE as each move was a building block towards victory, as I used the difficult experiences as lessons to strategize and planned my course of action, and in the end, my patience and resilience paid off.

This observation may pertain to a different topic, but it’s truly remarkable how corporations often overlook the fact that their own oppressive culture can lead them down a path where they unwittingly become victims of their actions. They grow complacent in perpetuating toxicity within their work environments, failing to recognize how this indirectly nurtures resilience in mistreated employees, ultimately motivating them to rise up and resist. Even in the midst of tyranny, there should exist checks and balances, for without them, it can inadvertently sow the seeds of rebellion, with individuals prepared to fight for a just cause. It’s a sorrowful reflection of our global reality how those who advocate for justice often find themselves unjustly portrayed as villains, being labeled as insurgents or terrorists by default.

Ultimately, it might require just one individual with the determination to push matters to the point where those in authority are compelled to face the consequences of their actions, whether through legal means or other forms of advocacy. In my case, it’s wishful thinking to assume that new problems will never arise. Winning a battle doesn’t signify the end of the war, and the attention I’ve garnered from my actions has made me a more significant target in the eyes of my supervisor’s superiors. While they know they lack grounds to challenge me, they remain vigilant, waiting for any misstep, therefore, it’s crucial for me to maintain my usual anti-social and efficient work routine. But if they occasionally devise new strategies to threaten my employment or pressure my resignation, my dormant inner strength will rise once more, unless I decide if its even worth fighting.