Issue #28 – Charge – The Poor Print

Issue #28 – Charge

A pdf of the print version of Issue #28 – Charge – can be downloaded here: Issue #28 – Charge

by Chloe Whitehead ‘Let the Bride awake!’ Intrigue and betrayal reigns in this adaptation of Federico García Lorca’s 1930s classic, Blood Wedding. The Burton Taylor Studio provides an intimate and compelling venue for the drama, with only two rows of seats before the scandal-riven world of rural Spain encroaches upon the audience. Despite only watching […]

Culture, Prose, Reviews

Hedda: A Review

Review by Amanda Higgin Photos by Georgia Crowther Oriel’s College’s own Poor Print had the first set of eyes on this much-anticipated Playhouse production in dress rehearsal. Even without making allowances for the adjustments and polishing that will take place before opening night, Hedda was excellent. A carefully curated, visually stunning, compelling masterwork – it […]

Comment, Culture, Prose

Slow Travel: Colonised by Capitalism

by Tobias Thornes It was with some regret that I set out again to sea, and left the magical island and its comforting solidarity in exchange for days and nights sliding across the empty waves. This time, though, my journey was to be much shorter than before, and it wasn’t long I had to wait […]

Cartoon, Comic

Your Magic Level is Insufficient to Cast This Spell

by Joe Gardiner

Comment, Prose

Potential Power

by Michael Angerer Our life in a modern state is made comfortable by our trust in the power of its institutions: we know that administrative difficulties are not our problem, but that of the civil service; the presence of the police makes it so much less likely that we will have to defend ourselves against […]

Cartoon, Comment

Plugged-In Kids

by Rhiannon Savage

Poetry

untitled trio

by Chloe Jacobs 1. We work in silent tandem as I, A spray of warm citrus, work open skin and you Lick sugared History from your spoon 2. “I mean, is it worth it?” As I work life back into my hands, you, the sheen of rain on a cheekbone, nod towards them, long limb […]

Creative Writing, Prose

In Extremis – Stones of Light

by James Page Crofton’s Seat was built upon an ancient rock overlooking the fields below. The single wide tower was surrounded by a low wall into which a great pair of iron gates was set as a mouth. It seemed as old as the land itself, and as likely to be abandoned as sheltering a […]

Poetry

‘The Charges of Patroclus’

by Cora MacGregor He who once, child-like, wept, seeing needless Death, now, clad in bronze, attacks a fourth time. Ablaze with another’s glory, heedless, Like something inhuman, like something divine. In costume, playing once the hero, but already The god. And dormant ambition is freed: Instinctive, his spear in his hand steady, As he […]

Poetry

‘Cosmic Background Radiation’

by Michael Leong I wrote you a poem – It was a twin fangled star’s crossing the park end of the universe It was a covert signal, a beep beep beeeeep fax machine beaming quiet whispers to desert islands Where jawas, marooned in silver storms would ponder our deepest secrets Huddled around broken words they […]

Poetry

‘Shorter Every Time’

by Fanxi Liu DREAM THE FIRST There’s a man in your soap bubbles, you notice on Wednesday. You almost swirl him down the drain with the rest of your day, but snatch the suds out in the nick of time. Indigo-gold-dogwood membrane films his features; nonetheless, you get the distinct impression that he’s addressing the […]

Humour, Prose

Improper Ponderings

It is clear what the theme of this issue is trying to push with its electric blue lettering and call for, and here I quote, ‘electrifying submissions’, so, with my hand forced, I gleefully put pen to paper. It is with a jolt of inspiration that my mind turns to sources of power, then wanders […]

Interview, Prose

Oriel Interviews: ‘We are always here for a chat’

By Soo Yi Yun Shelley Billington, Oriel’s first female night porter, supports feminism and enjoys her relationships forged in the college. Her last day as the night porter at Oriel was 16 February 2018. I started working at Oriel in July 2016. I was looking for a job with different challenges, so I decided to […]

Poetry

‘Virtue’s March’

by Tom Saer Any grip I had as a child On the warrior’s earpiece Amassed a certain sympathy with Freudian audio and the plaintive Cry of a caterpillar The other cups Made out of moral tortoise shells Say nothing about the grief of the immortals Or the baby dragon in her eye Or the formula […]

Poetry

‘Weather (or not?)’

by Alexander Walls The night is dark. The rain – it lashes down, Its persistent pattering, dolorous To my ears. The dull, sombre sky has drained. Hearing the downhearted drops of the rain, I think of such boundless, untold concepts. But, like the rain, I find myself discharged, Resigned to the asseveration from Above. Now […]