Rogue Shakespeare® (aka Ryan J-W Smith) is the most prolific
sonneteer in world history. This summer, he is setting a new literary milestone with the release of his first 1,000 sonnets in his new book: Rogue Shakespeare’s Sonnets - Truth in Verse - Part I: The Path to Enlightenment in the Brave New World.
Poetry fans should also keep a look out for Ryan’s incredible live show - The Rogue Shakespeare Experience, an audience-participation show in which Smith demonstrates his ability to write a fully structured, rhyming iambic sonnet on any topic.
We caught up with Ryan for a chat…
You've spent more than 17 years turning your life into a vast poetic diary, written entirely in rhyming iambic pentameter. What first inspired you to begin this extraordinary project, and has it been difficult to maintain this discipline throughout that time? SONNET 3435 - August 15, 2026
Why did this rogue begin his Truth in Verse?
Inspired I was by Love to raise my game:
The better man I needed to rehearse;
A daily quest - pin wisdom to my name.
At first, success! Forever changed I am,
So much that I, at times, forgo my quill!
But poetry reveals the prose-life sham;
When Rogue writes not, so wrongly he turns ill.
So 'discipline' my middle name becomes,
Till Nature fuses honour to my spine;
The stoic virtues only, this man sums;
Now all that I desired has ended mine:
All answers to all questions in these spells;
The truth of now forever in me dwells.
©2026 Ryan J-W Smith (aka 'Rogue Shakespeare')
Your new book, Rogue Shakespeare's Sonnets – Truth in Verse – Part I, brings together your first 1,000 sonnets. How does it feel to finally release such a huge and deeply personal body of work, and was there anything particularly difficult about putting so much of your life into the public domain? SONNET 3436 - August 15, 2026
So wonderful it feels to publish all!
Part One this year - a little taste of Rogue;
Watch poets rise as politicians fall,
Till truth in verse, once more, becomes in vogue.
I have no shame in sharing out my life;
I am an artist - this is what we do.
Upon the razor's edge, I dance the knife;
For every future human - all for you.
The globalists shall never understand:
The currency of God was never gold!
Rogue is the rhyming answer that was planned;
Thus you shall find him daring, swift and bold.
A weapon of Creation conquers fear;
Towards poetic destiny, we steer.
©2026 Ryan J-W Smith (aka 'Rogue Shakespeare')
You have a successful career in theatre as a playwright, actor, director and producer, and your verse has earned numerous awards and nominations. How has your experience of theatre influenced the way you write sonnets? SONNET 3437 - August 15, 2026
How did my plays affect my sonnets so?
A goodly question - let me answer thus:
Old theatre taught me everything I know,
For verse can turn man's minuses to plus.
Through emulation of my ancient peers,
By countless hours examining my faults,
I filled my cup of sonnets with my tears,
Till acrobat with words, Rogue somersaults.
As player, playwright, purse-holder and guide,
My decades on the stage doth rhyme infect.
Thus as you read my journey out of pride,
The super-arch of drama you'll detect.
Since all the world's a stage - all lives are too;
The theatre of my life I give to you.
©2026 Ryan J-W Smith (aka 'Rogue Shakespeare')
Can you tell us a little more about some of your live shows, especially The Rogue Shakespeare Experience, in which you demonstrate your ability to create a perfect iambic sonnet on virtually any subject in just 5–10 minutes... SONNET 3438 - August 15, 2026
Rogue Shakespeare has experience to share!
Good bards will code the truth a cunning way;
An honest poet through his verse may dare
To speak what all do think, but few can say.
On any theme or subject you might spell,
Your bard will spill his ink to clean your soul;
To raise you into Heaven, from their hell,
Or just to have a laugh - a double goal!
And Rogue will teach you how to spin a rhyme,
So ye may calm your propagandised mind;
When genocide cannot amount to crime,
Then all our 'leaders' show their pupils blind.
The common man deserves a better king;
Through poetry, kind futures we shall bring.
©2026 Ryan J-W Smith (aka 'Rogue Shakespeare')
Will your sonnet writing ever be 'complete' or is this an ongoing part of your life now, and you can't ever envisage stopping? SONNET 3439 - August 15, 202
As you can tell, my verse I cannot stop -
An endless fountain gushing through my heart;
The Enemy of Man, our kin doth crop:
I'm nowhere near the end - we're at the start!
My mission, Truth in Verse, was sanctioned high;
For Nature, mankind's Goddess, I must write,
Till every tyrant eats their tongue-tied lie,
And every recent wrong is written right.
The Gods and I conspired, as darkness grew;
All poison has an antidote on Earth.
The wise will see - The Ancients always knew;
And ye will comprehend Rogue Shakespeare's birth.
They cannot halt the path that I shall tread;
My quill shall only rest, when I am dead.
©2026 Ryan J-W Smith (aka 'Rogue Shakespeare')
Visit:
www.rogueshakespeare.com or purchase Ryan’s book
HERE.
