diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 37cf248..8a663ce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -392,10 +392,11 @@ The list of arguments can be obtained by running `morss --help`
 ```
 usage: morss [-h] [--post STRING] [--xpath XPATH]
              [--format {rss,json,html,csv}] [--search STRING] [--clip]
-             [--indent] [--cache] [--force] [--proxy] [--newest] [--firstlink]
-             [--resolve] [--items XPATH] [--item_link XPATH]
-             [--item_title XPATH] [--item_content XPATH] [--item_time XPATH]
-             [--nolink] [--noref] [--silent]
+             [--indent] [--cache] [--force] [--proxy]
+             [--order {first,last,newest,oldest}] [--firstlink] [--resolve]
+             [--items XPATH] [--item_link XPATH] [--item_title XPATH]
+             [--item_content XPATH] [--item_time XPATH] [--nolink] [--noref]
+             [--silent]
              url
 
 Get full-text RSS feeds
@@ -403,7 +404,7 @@ Get full-text RSS feeds
 positional arguments:
   url                   feed url
 
-optional arguments:
+options:
   -h, --help            show this help message and exit
   --post STRING         POST request
   --xpath XPATH         xpath rule to manually detect the article
@@ -422,8 +423,9 @@ action:
                         articles' content), so as to save time
   --force               force refetch the rss feed and articles
   --proxy               doesn't fill the articles
-  --newest              return the feed items in chronological order (morss
-                        ohterwise shows the items by appearing order)
+  --order {first,last,newest,oldest}
+                        order in which to process items (which are however NOT
+                        sorted in the output)
   --firstlink           pull the first article mentioned in the description
                         instead of the default link
   --resolve             replace tracking links with direct links to articles
diff --git a/morss/morss.py b/morss/morss.py
index 4c04243..bdb87ac 100644
--- a/morss/morss.py
+++ b/morss/morss.py
@@ -328,14 +328,20 @@ def FeedGather(rss, url, options):
     if options.cache:
         max_time = 0
 
-    if options.newest:
-        # :newest take the newest items (instead of appearing order)
-        now = datetime.now(tz.tzutc())
-        sorted_items = sorted(rss.items, key=lambda x:x.updated or x.time or now, reverse=True)
+    # sort
+    sorted_items = list(rss.items)
 
-    else:
-        # default behavior, take the first items (in appearing order)
-        sorted_items = list(rss.items)
+    if options.order == 'last':
+    # `first` does nothing from a practical standpoint, so only `last` needs
+    # to be addressed
+        sorted_items = reversed(sorted_items)
+
+    elif options.order in ['newest', 'oldest']:
+        now = datetime.now(tz.tzutc())
+        sorted_items = sorted(sorted_items, key=lambda x:x.updated or x.time or now) # oldest to newest
+
+        if options.order == 'newest':
+            sorted_items = reversed(sorted_items)
 
     for i, item in enumerate(sorted_items):
         # hard cap
diff --git a/www/sheet.xsl b/www/sheet.xsl
index 69eb9f2..ab188fe 100644
--- a/www/sheet.xsl
+++ b/www/sheet.xsl
@@ -204,7 +204,9 @@
 					link of the 
 					<select>
 						<option value="">first</option>
-						<option value=":newest" title="Select feed items by publication date (instead of appearing order)">newest (?)</option>
+						<option value=":order=newest" title="Select feed items by publication date (instead of appearing order)">newest (?)</option>
+						<option value=":order=last">last</option>
+						<option value=":order=oldest">oldest</option>
 					</select>
 					items and 
 					<select>