Study Notes on Krokodil by Ina Rousseau

Author: Ina Rousseau.
Subject Matter: The poem provides an exhaustive description of a crocodile, transitioning from its natural state as a dominant aquatic predator to its final state as a luxury fashion accessory.
Thematic Shift: The poem is divided into two major phases:
- The living animal in its natural habitat (water and land).
- The manufactured object (leather product) used by humans.

Ocular Description:
- The poem describes the crocodile eyes as "gemmer oë" (ginger eyes). A metaphor is used here to explain the light brown color of the eyes.
- Pupil Structure: The eyes are "vertikaal gekeep" (vertically slit), which identifies them as being "soos die oë van 'n kat" (like the eyes of a cat). This structure is characteristic of nocturnal predators.
- Positioning: The eyes "hang" at the surface of the water line while the rest of the body remains submerged.
Camouflage Metaphor:
- The snout is described as a "growwe stuk boomstomp" (coarse piece of tree stump). This metaphor emphasizes the crocodile's ability to blend into its environment to remain undetected by prey.
- Submerged State: The "romp en pote" (body and legs) float "roerloos" (motionlessly) under the water, as indicated by the parenthesis in the text to denote the physical placement of the body beneath the surface.

The Predator Role: The crocodile is explicitly labeled as a "roofdier van die water" (predator of the water). It is described as being "op wag" (on watch/hunting).
Specific Prey Mentions:
- Die Wulp: Identified as a curlew, characterized by its long legs and long beak.
- Die vet kikvors: A fat frog typically found on the "kaaimansblom" (water lily, specifically the Nymphaea species).
- Die bont rietpadda: The multi-colored reed frog.
Aquatic Agility: Despite its heavy appearance, in the water, the crocodile exhibits "kwikbene" (mercury legs), implying fast and nimble movement. This culminates in what the poet calls an "onderwaterse ballet" (underwater ballet) involving the "stert en pote" (tail and legs).

Transition to Land: When on land, the crocodile's physical grace changes. Its "maag" (stomach) is positioned low against the "sand."
Locomotion: The movement on land is described as a "komieklike lomp waggel" (comically clumsy waddle) where it "krink sy hakke" (twists/bends its heels).
Thermoregulation: The crocodile lies in the sun with its "bek oop" (mouth open). As a cold-blooded animal, this is a functional behavior for temperature regulation.
The Grin: The poet describes the crocodile's expression as an "antieke tydlose gryns" (ancient timeless grin), suggesting its prehistoric ancestry and status as a living fossil.

Insect Interaction: The atmosphere surrounding the crocodile is filled with "klik en gons insekte" (clicking and buzzing insects).
Nesting: The female crocodile ("sy") lies apart to "sluit haar eiers in die grond" (lock her eggs in the ground/bury them).
Outsmarting Competitors: The crocodile is said to "oorlê selfs die sluwe maraboe" (outsmart even the cunning marabou stork). The marabou is described as having a "snoeperige snawel" (greedy beak), highlighting the competition between predators and scavengers for food or eggs.

Industrial Processing: The poem shifts abruptly to the transformation of the crocodile's skin. The following descriptors are used for the manufacturing process:
- Opgesnipper: Shredded or cut into pieces.
- Uitgeknip: Cut out into specific patterns.
- Gepoleer: Polished.
- Gepatroon: Patterned.
- Fyn gestik: Finely stitched.
The Luxury Item: After being processed, the crocodile is no longer a heavy predator but becomes "iets ligs" (something light).
Final Utility: It is "oor 'n vroulike skouer geglip" (slipped over a woman's shoulder), indicating it has been turned into a leather handbag.
Closing Irony: The bag "maak oop en toe" (opens and closes) not to devour prey, but to "allerlei kleinighede te sluk" (swallow all sorts of trifles/small items). This contrasts the animal's former life as a "King of the water" with its current status as a container for mundane personal belongings.