Ms Turtle and Ms Crocodile
have been good friends for quite awhile.
Though not well matched in size or shape
(Ms Turtle’s small and like a plate
while Croc is more a long thin line)
it seems they get along just fine.
You’ll see Ms Turtle’s favourite place
is by her good friend’s pointy face.
She nuzzles Croc’s imposing jaw
then moves along to nuzzle more.
Not once does she show any fear
of those sharp teeth so very near.
All during this Ms Croc’s at ease
just floating there beneath the trees.
I don’t know what goes through her mind
but my guess is: ‘You are so kind!
Thank you, my friend, for being keen
to keep my face so nice and clean.’
© Kristin Martin 2018
This poem is also published in my poetry book, To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme? (Glimmer Press, 2019).
Hi Kristin
It is kind of ironic how crocodiles and turtles are friends in this poem because the crocodile would normally eat the turtle.
Hi Nuwin,
You would think that, wouldn’t you? But this is based on real animals, and the turtle helped the crocodile, so I guess the crocodile liked the turtle.
Kristin
Hi Kristin,
I liked how you said that the crocodile was friends with the turtle!
Crocodiles actually eat turtles, so I found it quite interesting!
Caleb
Hi Caleb,
This poem is based on the freshwater crocodile and long necked turtle at the Adelaide Zoo who actually live together and get along well!
Kristin
Hi Kristen
That was great poem! Why did you want to write a poem on a turtle and crocodile? I liked that the crocodile is friend with the turtle.
From Thinara
Hi Thinara,
This is about some animals I saw at the zoo!
Kristin
Hi Kristin
I liked how you said that they are great friends, even though that is a bit abnormal. I like how it kind of sends a message like “Don’t judge a book by its cover!” How did you come up with the brilliant idea?
Tharusha
Hi Tharusha,
I got the idea from the turtle and fresh water crocodile at the Adelaide Zoo who live in the same enclosure.
Kristin
Hi Kristin
I know turtles and crocodiles don’t get together that well but if they did I will be surprised. In the part that Ms turtle went near Ms crocodiles mouth, i felt like Ms crocodile will eat him. When i read the title i was like WHAT.
Hi Senehas,
I wrote this poem after I went to the Adelaide Zoo and saw a turtle and a freshwater crocodile in the same enclosure. The turtle seemed to be cleaning the crocodile’s face.
Kristin
Hi Kristin
This is one of my favourite poems.
It reminded me of my pet turtle.
Thanks Mia!
I love turtles. We have four pet turtles. What is yours called?
Kristin
We have had 2 already, but right now we have one turtle called bobby
Hi Kristin
I read this poem in the school holidays but I forgot to do a comment for your poem so I am doing it right now. I like the way you tried rhyme every two lines. I wish that every animal in the world could be friends like all humans are friendly to each other. In real life, I don’t think that those two animals are friendly but if they were that would be so amazing to see it actually happen in a zoo or in the jungle if they were working together to hunt for food or play together.
From Nuwin.
Hi Nunwin,
The long-necked turtle and fresh water crocodile really did live together in the Adelaide Zoo. (I haven’t checked recently if they still live together.) They seem to get along just fine!
You know, you don’t have to comment on every poem you read. You can read lots and only need to comment on one or two.
Kristin
i like this poem
Thanks!
When I saw the title of the poem, I knew I had to read it.
Great work Kristen!
Thanks Lyana!
Crocodiles are scary but turtles aren’t that must be a weird friendship and great poem.
Hi Nae,
Do you think they are really friends, or are they helping each other?
Kristin
Your poems are easy to understand and give new way of thinking to me. I have not seen they are friends in real life. Who are the other animals who are friends like this. May be rabbits and birds or kangaroo and dear. If human can be friends with animals why not animals with other animals in the jungle?
Hi Dinethri,
Some animals help each other in the wild, like birds who eat insects off of buffalo’s backs. The turtle was helping keep the crocodile clean, so the crocodile let her stay close by. I guess they were sort of friends.
Kristin
That is an interesting pair of besties. I think there is a fish who also cleans the algae in other fish’s teeth.
-Thisama
Hi Thisama,
I’ve heard of fish doing that, and also birds who eat insects off mammals’ backs.
Kristin
I like these paintings of the crocodile and turtle. I also like how they sound like real people who are friends that are not afraid of each other.
From Lysha
Thanks Lysha,
The paintings are photos made into paintings by an app on my phone.
Kristin
Hi Kristin,
I love to read your poems during my school holidays. This poem is awesome too.
I have seen turtles in the zoo but not crocodiles.
Are they really friends?
Thanks
Dinidu
Hi Dinidu,
It is lovely to hear that you like to read my poems on your school holidays. I am also enjoying the school holidays- I am a teacher and a mum.
I really did see a turtle nibbling a crocodile’s face at the zoo. I’m not sure if they were friends, but I think the crocodile liked the turtle cleaning her face.
Kristin
I like how it kind of sends a message like “Don’t judge a book by its cover!”
Tharusha
Thanks Tharusha!
It’s adorable how two creatures that are enemies in real life, are portrayed as friends in this poem.
Thanks Thenumi,
These two animals actually do this in the Adelaide Zoo. I don’t know if they are friends, but the turtle does keep the crocodile’s face clean.
Kristin
I think this poem is so cute.
Thanks Desiyer!
I like how the turtle and crocodile work together and I thought it was funny how the turtle cleaned the crocodiles jaws. I thought they were very kind and good friends.
Ashton B
Hi Ashton,
I saw a turtle cleaning a crocodile’s face. I thought it was unusual so I wrote this poem. It does seem like they are good friends.
Kristin
I love poems that rhyme and I think this one is fantastic! Especially because it features a turtle, they are my favourite animal!
Thanks Tae,
I’m glad you like my poem. I like turtles too. Have you read my poem ‘My New Pet’? That one is about a turtle too.
Kristin
Do you like turtles or crocodiles most?
Tharinsa
I prefer turtles. Crocodiles are interesting creatures, but I wouldn’t want one for a pet!
Kristin