Aviya Kushner reads “The First Time”

The transcript is a reading of a poem titled 'The First Time' from the chapbook 'Eve and All the Wrong Men'. The poem is inspired by the author's lifelong obsession with visual art, particularly the painting Venus of Urbino. It reflects on the author's personal growth and change over the years, contrasted with the unchanging nature of the painting. The author first encountered the painting in college and describes the experience and the painting's features in detail.

What is the primary inspiration behind the poem 'The First Time'?

• A childhood memory

• Visual art and paintings

• A famous novel

• A historical event

How did the poet first learn about the 'Venus of Urbino'?

• During a museum visit

• From a friend

• In a dark classroom as a slide

• Through a book

What was the poet's reaction upon seeing the 'Venus of Urbino' for the first time?

• Indifference

• Shock and fascination

• Disappointment

• Confusion

What does the poet reflect on during her return visit to see the painting?

• The artist's biography

• The changes in the painting

• The museum's architecture

• Her personal growth and changes

How does the poet describe the 'Venus of Urbino' in terms of its timelessness?

• As a figure that will outlast the viewer

• As a symbol of modernity

• As an outdated piece of art

• As a representation of change