Puzzle

Cryptic Crossword [6]

by Siddiq Islam Editor’s note: The solutions to this puzzle are available here. Across 1 Rest on back wheel (6) 4 Beginner with no pen eraser (6) 9 Era of mindless rage (3) 10 Last of cacti in Sahara ill (5) 11 To hang but with no initial laughing allowed (3) 12 Hilly Tour d’England […]

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Culture, Prose

Nostalgic Movie List

by David Akanji From all-time classics to trashy child-hood highlights. Indulge your older and wiser self in some throwback flicks, whether it’s Samuel L. Jackson reciting scripture or Amanda Bynes toppling the sporting patriarchy.rom all-time classics to trashy child-hood highlights. Indulge your older and wiser self in some throwback flicks, whether it’s Samuel L. Jackson […]

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Prose

The Poor Print: Looking Back, Looking Ahead

by Michael Angerer The very first issue of The Poor Print was published in Trinity term 2013. To celebrate our tenth birthday, we’ve asked past Poor Printers
to provide retrospective editorials on their time with the newspaper. Here, Michael Angerer reflects on his time as an executive editor from 2017 to 2019. Ten years of The […]

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Culture, Music, Prose

Renaissance Reminiscence

by Hani Ali You may, or may not, know about Beyoncé’s recent five-day stint in London for her Renaissance World Tour. If you weren’t aware, I may be tempted to ask you ‘what rock have you been living under?’ Five nights, three hours, sixty thousand attendees per night – Beyoncé’s first world tour in seven […]

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Comment, Prose

A Word from the Editors: Summer

by Jerric Chong And so we arrive (as Oxford students have always done and always will do until the day of judgement come) at the end of another academic year, accompanied by the ever-gradual turning-up of the summer heat. As is traditional, our last issue of the year is dedicated to looking back, reminiscing about […]

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Poetry

Deaning

by Emily Hudson and Rhienna Morar you werea pole with no flagand i was onthe oriel lawn against the rules — rupi kaur

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Poetry

The Far-field

by Siddiq Islam They all would like to make me fitInto the standards they assert,But I cut my myself off from it,Even the labels on my shirt. I hike off to a far-field place,The sunshine rides upon my hair.They do not know. I left no trace.I killed my phone and left it there. Then music, […]

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Culture, Prose, Reviews

The Importance of Being Earnest: A Review

by Emily Lazell-Taylor ‘Oh, pleasure, pleasure! What else 
should bring one anywhere?’ The annual Oriel College Summer 
Garden Play this year was the performance of one of Oscar Wilde’s greatest works – The Importance of Being Earnest. Having studied the play for my English Literature A-Level course and been captivated by Wilde’s genius ever since, […]

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Creative Writing, Prose

After Belbroughton: Jude Bellingham and I

by Ben Nolan Extract from the New York Times bestselling autobiography of 24 June – the afternoon of 24 June 2022. Former football star Ben Nolan shares his experience of meeting his co-star Jude Bellingham in the long years after their Belbroughton debut. What follows is a tale of broken promises, sprained ankles, and strained […]

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Poetry

Poem

by Anonymous Milk gliding down your throatlike powdered pearlsdelicate excrement groundsmooth and texturelessthick, filling, a plastic glovethat tastes of the moonthat final drop in a glassCircling around the bottomSpreading when tilted allover the surface, waxing toa crescent and then a fullmoon, gravity calling and the misty blue fadingand waning, from the edgesa translucent shadeholographic white,a […]

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Humour, Prose

‘Dear Beary …’ [23]

by Beary McBearface Hello there! My name’s Beary, one of the giant teddy bears who hang out in the JCR – I’m the brown one; my purple counterpart is John Henry. As The Poor Print’s self-anointed agony aunt, I’m here to help you with any troubles you’re facing. Please send me your college (or general) […]

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Artwork, Cartoon

Water

by Noah Sitaula-Adhikari What is water?Is it something you drink?Why do you even have to drink?!Can’t you just drink Fanta!!?Or is it a sword?It sounds like one!Who was even the first person to see water!!!Why does it sound weird!!Can you ride it!Water, water you hear it everywhere!!!Can you jump on it?Is it human!!Or creature!I don’t […]

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Poetry

Sonnet à Oxford

by Joshua Freeman Bruits de transbordements blancs tels l’écume allante Voiture et bus prennent un air vif de goujon Les yeux rouges des grues observent ces poissons. Les clochers d’albâtre sont îles scintillantes Un urbain rivage, plein d’étoiles filantes Reflète les cieux, entouré de noirs monts. C’est un profond lac plein de constellations De loin […]

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Poetry

Authorial Seepings

by O Collopy The sweat drips down the coldRock face of my skin, collectingIn a pool at my feet as I scrawlBut then I look down as I thinkThat my shoes begin to overflowBut there I see three inches thickOf deep slimy liquid flooding andFilling the room, a fluffy carpetFloating at my ankles. This isNo […]

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Puzzle

Cryptic Crossword [5]

by Hamish Dodd Editor’s note: The solutions to this puzzle are available here. Across 6  Tom Sawyer’s friend is tangled in her freckly bun (11,4) 8  Anger following burst of energy in kingdom (6) 9  Royal Mail sends final amount to marsupial (6) 10  Agreement about a tree (3) 11  Group’s charged on board for personal items (11) 13  Re-wind some strange documentary program (4) 15  In lieu […]

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Poetry

Candlelight

by Leonard Shaw and Lo the gentle lantern leads me; swingingdown the quiet cobbles. A pale light singingfrom the flickering flame, guides me as I stumbledown the way.Although the unlit street’s a cool pretence,Surely buildings pass on either side, butDare I not to reach and stroke the brickwork.Lest this cold presumption’s no defence. So onwards […]

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Culture, Prose, Reviews

Sisyphus House: A Review

by Sam Hardaker Subtitled a ‘time bending rom-com’, the student-run Sisyphus House touched a nostalgic and sentimental nerve. Written by Abbie Nott and Megan Bruton, the new play had a unique and fresh voice, both loving and honest, truthful and fantastical, and Sisyphus House was able to transform a rather grey Thursday and my rather […]

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Culture, Music, Prose, Reviews

Champagne Concert: A Review

by Jerric Chong We at Oriel are quite privileged indeed to be able to listen to an extraordinarily broad range of live music. Even discounting the superb ensembles and performers of every genre who can be heard across the city and university, Oriel is fortunate to be able to put on a wide array of […]

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Puzzle

Cryptic Crossword [4]

by Tom Rose Editor’s note: The solutions to this puzzle are available here. Across 1 A unit representative of a typical, grizzly hospital (8,6) 9 Gods of a mount from the east (5) 10  A welcoming signal? (9) 11  Decapitate pig with blade (3) 12  Minecraft block-style copper starts to become increasingly corroded (5) 13  Make a bet, lose £1000, […]

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Humour, Prose

‘Dear Beary …’ [22]

by Beary McBearface Hello there! My name’s Beary, one of the giant teddy bears who hang out in the JCR – I’m the brown one; my purple counterpart is John Henry. As The Poor Print’s self-anointed agony aunt, I’m here to help you with any troubles you’re facing. Please send me your college (or general) […]

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Poetry

Tres Aestates

Three Summers by Leonard Shaw non puntonibussoles non placet nostriscapti labore terror ob finemdocumenta moraticor iam sanatur solis occasusmembra calefactantesmox laboramus we are not in puntssunny days delight us notheld hostage by work panic for the endtutorials are delayedmy heart is now healed the sun is settingthough our bodies are warmersoon we work again

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Poetry

Mono

by Siddiq Islam O a wondrous yestermorrow,Wrapped up with my missus Mono.Cuddles, nuzzles, hugs and kisses,Wrapped up with my Mono missus. But, next day, I’m fever’s captive.What has made me so reactive?Tossing, turning all night long.What has happened? What is wrong? Hearing Doctor’s diagnosis:‘You have Mononucleosis.Drink some water, get some rest,And stay away from me! […]

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Poetry

How to Smile

by Siddiq Islam Leave mistakes from yesterday.Banish worries of tomorrow.Later we can dwell on sorrow.Just for now, put it away. What’s around you? Chairs? Buildings?Or are you in the forest yonder?God has put you where you wonder.Cherish this fact of all things. The people need you back again.How they miss your quiet beauty.Smile because it […]

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Poetry

Ma chambre 

by Joshua Freeman Original (French) Faite de bon temps, de vieille pierre, d’émoiMa chambre n’est pas qu’un lieu d’escale sans vieIntarie, cette source est ma meilleure amieSous la voûte céleste elle est faite de bois La pluie résonne en moi comme un vieux souvenirSur l’alcôve le ciel joue une mélodieMa chambre est bien plus que […]

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Comment, Prose

Women*’s Dinner 2023

by Ayomikun Bolaji The women* of Oriel gathered once more on the 28th of April to celebrate woman*hood,  female* empowerment and diversity at the Women*’s Dinner: a feat we have only enjoyed once before, and will hopefully enjoy for many years to come thanks to the amazing Eva Hogan, JCR Women*’s Officer. ‘I want Women*’s […]

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Prose

The Poor Print: Ten Years On

by Monim Wains The very first issue of The Poor Print was published in Trinity Term 2013. To celebrate our tenth birthday, we’ve asked past Poor Printers to provide retrospective editorials on their time with the newspaper. Here, Monim Wains reflects on his time as an executive editor from 2019 to 2022. I think I […]

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Humour, Music, Prose

A Sophisticated Analysis of Sadomasochism and Cannibalism in Katy Perry’s ‘California Gurls’ ft. Snoop Dogg (2010)

by Anonymous The heavy psychoanalytical undertones of Katherine Perry’s ‘California Gurls’ has been the subject of much scholarly attention in recent years, as has the Oedipal complexity that dominates the lyrics. However, less well documented is the gastronomic and culinary imagery which pervades the song both lyrically and videographically. This, coupled with a recognition of […]

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Puzzle

Cryptic Crossword [3]

by Tom Rose Across 1 Poor mark suggests something’s wrong (3,4) 5 Fix the wizard a big cheese? (7) 10 Just holding one is a long way off (4) 11 ABBA overdo dancing, honest (5,5) 12 Using some incorrect or pidgin Latin is sluggish (6) 13 ‘People known to love sheep stew’, His Highness inaccurately […]

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Poetry

In Paradisum

by Jerric Chong In paradisum deducant te Angeli: They come now, those harbingers so bright, In tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, Beckoning thee at the celestial gate: Et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. ’Tis at unity with itself; gladly go thou in. But O what glories shalt thou then behold? Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat, […]

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Poetry

Hourglass

by Leonard Shaw Alas! You know only the simple ways:For such a man the days fly and flitterFrom one week to the next,Till the term, the year, the life is o’er. Upon a passing fancy in the street or in a carriage,One can only wonder surely when the next may come to be.And yet the […]

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