History Repeats Itself

News broke yesterday that Mexican authorities recaptured escaped drug lord Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo.

El Chapo escaped from a maximum security prison six months ago through a tunnel dug by his minions.  He gave his whereabouts away, though, when he started exploring the possibility of producing a movie about his life.  He even arranged a meeting with actor Sean Penn.

Oddly enough, though, these events are a stunning example of when history reports itself:

In the mid-1800's El Chapo's great-great-great-grandfather, Jacinto Raul Guzman (pictured at the left) -- known as El Nacho, because he was said to have a chip on his shoulder.  El Nacho escaped from prison through a tunnel after his conviction for illegal dealings with sugar cane (at that time, Americans could not control their consumption of sugar).

Six-months later El Nacho contacted Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request).  El Nacho wanted Dickinson to write a poem about his life and daring escape.  Dickinson did write "Escape is such a thankful Word" (below on the left) -- though Dickinson's meeting with El Nacho led to his capture!

Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to write a poem with the same first line (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:
 
Escape is such a thankful Word
I often in the Night
Consider it unto myself
No sentinel in sight
 
Escape – it is the Sewer
In which the Frame is eased
Then down some awful Drainage Pipe
The rest of Life is squeezed –
 
’Tis not to sight the savior –
It is just to be saved –
And that is why I jump Head first
And hope the sewer’s paved –

By Emily Dickinson:
 
Escape is such a thankful Word
I often in the Night
Consider it unto myself
No spectacle in sight

Escape – it is the Basket
In which the Heart is caught
When down some awful Battlement
The rest of Life is dropt –

'Tis not to sight the savior –
It is to be the saved –
And that is why I lay my Head
Upon this trusty word –