Izak David du Plessis (1900–1981)

Abstract This chapter contains newly crafted English translations and International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions of fifteen poems by poet I. D. du Plessis. The first two poems, “In the Stillness of My Garden” and “Cold Is the Wind,” are from the work Four Melancholy Little Songs. The next eight poems are from the work Queer Love: “If I Have to Reveal This Queer Love of Mine,” “I Surrendered to You,” “The Heart of Dawn,” “Coward with a Wife and Child,” “I Know That in the Calm Togetherness,” “No, Rather Death,” “At Dusk,” and “Oh Queer Love.” The chapter concludes with five stand-alone poems: “If My Heart Now Wants to Sing,” “A Prayer,” “We Said Farewell,” “Tranquility and Quietness,” and “Snow on the Mountains.” There are several musical settings by composers including Arnold van Wyk, Hubert du Plessis, S. le Roux Marais, Dawid S. Engela, and Doris Beyers. Illuminating footnotes are provided to enhance the reader’s comprehension of the unique biodiversity of the Southern African landscape and multicultural distinctiveness of its people. Lyric diction recommendations are provided for best practices for singing in Afrikaans. Topics include the wind, nature, death, LGBTQIA+ lived experiences, love, and prejudice.