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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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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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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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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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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A PDF of the print version of Issue #92 – Reminiscence – can be downloaded here.
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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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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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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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by Carolina Cortés Vilaplana Boat Wed Thu Fri Sat Finish M1 → → → → Head! M2 ↑ → → → 22nd M3 ↑ → ↑ ↓ 58th M4 → ↓ ↓ → 67th M5 ↑ ↑ ↑ → 64th Boat Wed Thu Fri Sat Finish W1 → ↑ ↑ ↑ 4th W2 ↑ → […]
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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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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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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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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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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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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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A PDF of the print version of Issue #91 – Water – can be downloaded here.
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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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by Hani Ali Whether you have finals, prelims, or obscure second-year exams (why?) coming up, I can imagine you are probably under a lot of stress. Your friends are too busy to see you, the work never stops, and you’ve had to cut down on formals and other leisure activities. Why wouldn’t you be? As […]
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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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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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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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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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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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by Siddiq Islam
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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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A PDF of the print version of Issue #90 – Stress – can be downloaded here.
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by David Akanji Nothing’s like the excitement of trying a new beer for the first time. The anticipation builds as you crack open the bottle and the aroma wafts up to your nose. The first sip is always the most telling, as you try to discern the flavours and characteristics of the brew. While the […]
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A PDF of the print version of Issue #89 – Fire – can be downloaded here.
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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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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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by Pia Regensburger On the agenda today is a hot topic: toast. The one aspect we will be able to agree on is that traditional pre-sliced sandwich bread makes excellent toast, but any further talk about toast is bound to result in a heated debate. Should we choose white, wheat or rye bread, sourdough or […]
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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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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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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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