Keveen's Speech~Written for the Book Release

2008-12-11T10:43:00.010-05:00

Keveen was on his cycyling trip from France to Mongolia during the time of the book release (Thursday, Nov 20, 2008), so he sent this beautiful message (via email) which I read aloud to those in attendance on this magical evening at The Princess Twin Cinema in Uptown Waterloo:

It's cold, raining and my butt hurts. I've been cycling for so long now that my body is totally exhausted, yet I feel the joy of natural drunkenness.

Although I would not give up anything to be exactly where I am on this particular night, I feel as if I should have mocked frostbite, tickled death and walked across Waterloo to sit in front of you. But, I wouldn’t want to come as Keveen, the poet of our creation...as this is your night.

You’re finally giving birth to our baby.

You’re a very peculiar elephant. Two years have passed since we last touched, and yet you still love me with the same intensity. You officially broke the pachydermic gestation record. It took you a while before being fully ready to deliver our work to the world. The whole pregnancy marked your last 2 years.

At first you thought we had made a mistake. You felt a bit guilty, but incredibly happy. You called your friends to announce the good news—still fearing that this love child of ours would never survive in your womb. Then, you rejected it, you threw up, you cried, you hated the father for making you go through the pain alone while he was enjoying his sunny time on the cote d'azur…ah, the French sun...

But with all the care in the world, you let it grow inside you...feeding from your life’s blood. It was no longer our baby. Sure, I was the donator, the seed giver if you will. But I merely planted something.

This was your creation, breathing its first joy.

You told Paige about it, and she was ready to share the house, her mother and her life with one other—another little person that was to take all of your attention. She is so strong and wise for one at such a young age.

And one day, as I continued to bum around the world, I received the x-ray of what we had created—a sample of what it could one day become...if I was ready to accept it.

I could hold it in my hands, smell it, see it taking life and I started to love it much more than I expected at first...I slowly became a father.

Although you went through much pain and self-questioning, I am happy that you never opted for abortion. This creation of ours needed to see life. It was destined to be seen by the world...and one day even Oprah.

Today, I’m the proud (yet passive) father of your child. Your pains are rewarded and it’s your day to shine. Now show the world your baby and how beautiful a mother you are.

Show it in all of its perfection...

Je taime,

The spark giver

Reading Keveen's words brought me to tears that night, they meant so much. I'm truly blessed.

THE POET & THE BUTTERFLY

Keveen's Speech~Written for the Book Release