The Crocodile and The Monkey : a Poem by Vikram Seth

Greetings English Students!

It’s Story Time!

Who doesn’t love a great story? Today, I’m going to share a fabulous story with you: The Crocodile and The Monkey by Vikram Seth. It may look like a children’s story, but it has deep-rooted meanings. It’s a short story, written as a long poem.  To really appreciate how powerful the English language can be, you need to listen to it.

Vikram Seth is an incredible wordsmith and his poem is read beautifully by Shaheen Aggarwal. Her intonation, timing, and pronunciation are faultless. Alas, the sub-titles are not all correct. I recommend that you read the poem (beneath the YouTube video) while listening to the video. Don’t be put off by the mangled-looking YouTube link. It works. I have included an AI summary after the poem. If you would like a detailed explanation, click here.

The Crocodile and The Monkey by Vikram Seth

On the Ganga’s greenest isle
Lived Kuroop the Crocodile:
Greeny-brown with a gentle grin,
Stubby legs and scaly skin,
He would view with tepid eyes,
Prey below a certain size –
But when a substantial dish
– Dolphin, turtle, fatter fish –
Swam across his field of view,
He would test the water too.
Out he’d glide, a floating log,
Silent as a polliwog – 
Nearer, nearer, till his prey
Swam single length away;
Then he’d lunge with smiling head,
Grab, and snap, and rip it dead –
Then (prime pleasure of his life)
Drags the carcass to his wife,
Lay it humbly at her feet,
Eat a bit, and watch her eat.

All along the river-bank
Mango trees stood rank on rank,
And his monkey friend would throw
To him as he swam below
Mangoes gold and ripe and sweet
As a special summer treat
“Crocodile, your wife, I know
Hungers after mangoes so
That she’d pine and weep and swoon,
Mangoes-less in burning June.”
Then Kuroop the crocodile,
Gazing upwards with smile,
Thus addressed his monkey friend:
“Dearest monkey, in the end,
Not the fruit, but your sweet love,
Showered on us from above,
Constant through the changing years,
Slakes her griefs and dries her tears.”
(This was only partly true.
She liked love, and mangoes too.)

One day, Mrs. Crocodile,
Gorged on mangoes, with a smile
– Sad, yet tender – turned and said:
“Scalykins, since we’ve been wed,
You’ve fulfilled my every wish
– Dolphins, turtles, mangoes, fish – 
But I now desire to eat,
As an anniversary treat,
Something sweeter still than fruit,
Sugar-cane or sugar-root:
I must eat that monkey’s heart.”
“What?” “Well, darling, for a start,
He has been so kind to me;
Think how sweet his heart must be.
Then, the mango pulp he’s eaten
Year on year must serve to sweeten
Further yet each pore and part,
Concentrating in his heart.”
“Darling, he’s my friend.” “I know;
And he trusts you. Therefore go – 
Go at once and fetch him here.
Oh, my breath grows faint, I fear…”
“Let me fan you – it’s the heat – ”
“No –  I long for something sweet.
Every fruit tastes bitter now.
I must eat his heart somehow.
Get him here, my love, or I,
Filled with bitterness, will die.”

When the monkey saw Kuroop
He let out a joyful whoop,
Jumped from branch to branch with pleasure,
Flinging down the golden treasure:
“Eat, my friend, and take your wife
Nectar from the tree of life – 
Mangoes ripe and mangoes rare,
Mangoes, mangoes everywhere.”
Then Kuroop the crocodile
Gazed up with a gentle smile:
“Monkey, you are far too kind,
But today, if you don’t mind,
Dine with both of us, and meet
Her whose life you’ve made so sweet.
When you meet her you will see
Why she means so much to me.
When she takes you by the paw
Something at your heart will gnaw.
When you gaze into her eyes
You will enter Paradise.
Let us show our gratitude:
Share our friendship and our food.”

“Dear Kuroop, dear crocodile,
You can swim from isle to isle.
I can leap from limb to limb,
But, my friend, I cannot swim.
And your island’s far away.
If I get a boat someday…”
“Nonsense; jump upon my back.
You’re no heavier than my sack
Filled with mangoes to the crown.”
So the monkey clambered down,
Bearing mangoes, and delighted
With such warmth to be invited.

They were just halfway across
When the crocodile said: “Toss
All those mangoes in the water.”
“But these fruits are all I’ve brought her.”
“You yourself are gift enough,”
Said Kuroop in accents gruff.
“Ah, my friend, that’s very gracious.”
“Well, my wife’s not so voracious – 
And I’m certain that today
She won’t eat fruit. By the way,
Tell me what your breast contains.
Mango nectar fills your veins.
Does it also fill your heart?”
Said the monkey with a start:
“What a very curious question.”
“Well, she might get indigestion
If it’s too rich, I suspect.”
“What?” “Your heart.” “My heart?” “Correct.”
“Now,” Kuroop said with a frown,
“Which would you prefer – to drown
In the Ganga or to be
Gutted by my wife and me?
I will let you choose your end.
After all, you are my friend.”
Then he slowly started sinking.
“Wait – ” the monkey said, “I’m thinking.
Death by drowning, death by slaughter
– Death by land or death by water –
I’d face either with a smile
For your sake, O crocodile!
But your wife’s felicity – 
That’s what means the most to me.
Noble lady! How she’ll freeze,
Dumb with sorrow, when she sees,
Having prised my ribs apart,
That my breast contains no heart.
If you had not rushed me so,
I’d have found the time to go
To the hollow where I keep
Heart and liver when I sleep,
Half my brain, a fingernail,
Cufflinks, chutney, and spare tail.
I had scarcely woken up
When you asked me here to sup.
Why did you not speak before?
I’d have fetched them from the shore.”

Now Kuroop the crocodile
Lost, then quickly found, his smile.
“How my sweetheart will upbraid me!
Monkey, monkey – you must aid me.”
“Well … ” – the monkey placed his paw
Thoughtfully upon his jaw – 
“Well, although the day is hot
And I’d really rather not – 
We could go back, fetch my heart,
Check its sweetness, and depart.”

So the crocodile once more
Swam the monkey back to shore,
And, with tears of thankfulness
Mingled with concern and stress,
Worried what his wife would say
With regard to his delay,
Begged his friend: “Come back at once.”
“I’m not such a double-dunce,”
Yelled the monkey from on high;
“Tell your scaly wife to try
Eating her own wicked heart
– If she has one – for a start.
Mine’s been beating in my breast
Night and day without rest.
Tell her that – and for you,
Here’s my parting gift – ” He threw
Mangoes – squishy, rotten, dead – 
Down upon the reptile’s head,
Who, with a regretful smile,
Sat and eyed him for a while.

AI Summary:

“The Crocodile and the Monkey” is a poem by Vikram Seth, found in his collection “Beastly Tales From Here and There.” It retells a fable from the Panchatantra, focusing on the friendship between a crocodile named Kuroop and a monkey. Kuroop’s wife, however, desires the monkey’s heart for a meal, leading Kuroop to betray their friendship. The monkey, however, is clever and manages to escape by tricking Kuroop, highlighting the importance of not exploiting friendships and being wary of those who are normally untrustworthy.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Kuroop the crocodile and a monkey become friends, with the monkey often providing mangoes to Kuroop and his wife.

Kuroop’s wife, Mrs. Crocodile, craves the monkey’s heart and convinces Kuroop to lure the monkey across the river under the pretense of a visit.

Kuroop, while carrying the monkey on his back, reveals his wife’s desire and offers the monkey a choice of how he will die. The quick-witted monkey cleverly suggests that his heart is in the tree on the shore, tricking Kuroop into returning.

The monkey, once back on shore, throws rotten mangoes at Kuroop, highlighting the crocodile’s betrayal.

The poem ultimately teaches the listener to be cautious of those who are normally untrustworthy, even in seemingly friendly situations.